Showdown for Ukraine at EU summit: decision on candidate status
Created: 06/22/2022, 16:43
By: Vincent Bussow
From Thursday (June 23) the EU member states will discuss the possibility of Ukraine's accession.
But there are a few hurdles ahead.
After Russia attacked Ukraine, Kyiv applied to join the EU.
On Thursday (June 23) and Friday, EU member states will decide on Ukraine's future in the alliance.
Some members called for special treatment similar to Ukraine's for candidate countries in the Western Balkans.
Brussels – Things are getting serious for Ukraine at the upcoming EU summit.
The 27 heads of state and government will meet on Thursday (June 23) and Friday to decide on the war-torn country's accession prospects.
The prospects of the former Soviet nations of Moldova and Georgia are also up for discussion.
As usual in the EU Council, members must vote unanimously to recognize countries as candidates.
This principle has often caused problems in the past.
Only on Friday (June 17) did the EU Commission recommend granting Ukraine candidate status.
Just days after Russia invaded the neighboring country on February 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy applied to join the European alliance.
The process triggered by this in the EU is an absolute special case: Not only did the Commission come to its decision in an absolute rush, but the mere consideration of admitting a country in a state of war has not been up for debate up to now.
Despite the special treatment, Ukraine still faces a number of hurdles.
After the EU Commission voted in favor of Ukraine's candidate status, the member states are now voting on it at a summit.
(symbol photo) © Patrick Pleul/dpa
EU summit decides on Ukraine's candidate status: Members signal unanimity
The problem is less, as is so often the case, the stubbornness of the member states.
In the run-up to the EU summit, several heads of government have signaled that they expect a unanimous decision.
Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said on Tuesday (21 June) that there was not a single country causing problems.
Nevertheless, there could be haggling at the end of the debate at the EU summit.
For example, it is still unclear whether countries such as Austria, Slovenia and Croatia will link their approval of Ukraine's EU accession candidate status to progress in efforts to expand the EU to include the Western Balkans.
Serbia, Albania and Co. deserve the same "special treatment as Ukraine", said Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob only recently.
as a signal,
The real difficulties were not to hit Kyiv until after the EU summit.
The expected commitment to Ukraine means little at first, although actual accession is subject to numerous conditions.
In the areas of the rule of law and the fight against corruption in particular, Ukraine needs reform, as EU Council President Charles Michel said in a video message before the summit.
The example of the Western Balkan countries shows how inconsequential candidate status can be.
(vbu with dpa/AFP)