Global Courant
The European Union’s report, to be published this week, will say that Ukraine has met two of the seven conditions to start membership negotiations, two EU sources told Reuters.
The European Commission is expected to highlight the progress achieved despite the invasion launched by Russia.
In a highly symbolic move, the EU last year granted Ukraine candidate country status, just four months after Russia launched a war against Kiev, which is trying to integrate with the West.
But the EU imposed seven conditions – including reforms in the judiciary and reducing endemic corruption – to start the process of membership negotiations. Ukraine has called for the talks to start this year.
The European Commission’s report is being hailed as a major achievement in this process, as supporters of Ukraine are demanding that it be granted a quick acceptance and that the 27 member states decide in December to start talks with Kiev.
Two senior EU officials with knowledge of the report, which has not yet been made public, told Reuters that Ukraine has so far met two criteria. According to officials, these criteria are related to reforms in the judiciary and the media law, adding that the report is positive for Kiev.
“There is progress. The report will be moderately positive,” said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It is not about embellishing reality, but about recognizing progress. For example, there have been major cases against corruption”.
In recent months, Ukraine has pursued several high-profile anti-corruption cases, including the arrest of the head of the Supreme Court on suspicion of a $2.7 million bribe.
The other fulfilled criterion concerns the reforms in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and in the law enforcement forces, for measures against money laundering, but also the adoption of laws to prevent oligarchs and to protect the rights of national minorities.
The report, which is an interim update before a final assessment due in October, will be handed to the envoys of the 27 member states on Wednesday, and to foreign ministers during their meeting on Thursday.
All 27 EU countries decide whether or not to start membership talks with Kiev.
To start the talks, Ukraine must adapt EU laws and standards in many areas. In practice, Ukraine’s path to membership could take several years, but few believe that the country can join the European bloc while the war with Russia continues.
Global Courantl
