All countries wishing to join the European Union must first comply with the criteria of the rule of law, democracy, respect for human rights and the fight against corruption, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, commenting on the possible membership of Ukraine in the EU.
⠀
“It was a strong signal that last summer we made Moldova and Ukraine candidate countries. Each candidate must meet the necessary criteria to become a member of the EU – this concerns the rule of law, democracy, respect for human rights and the fight against corruption,” Scholz said to the question whether Ukraine’s accession to the EU by the end of 2024 is realistic, as Kyiv wishes.
⠀
When asked if Ukraine was given some kind of “military bonus“, the chancellor replied that the conditions for joining the EU “are the same for everyone.”
⠀
Volodymyr Zelensky on February 28 last year signed an application for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. The heads of state and government of the European Union at the summit in Brussels on June 23 approved granting Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidates for joining the union. To start negotiations, countries need to fulfill a number of conditions, including reforms and strengthening the fight against corruption.
⠀
Obtaining candidate status is only the beginning of a fairly long journey to join the EU. Turkey has been a candidate since 1999, North Macedonia since 2005, Montenegro since 2010 and Serbia since 2012. Croatia was the last country to join the EU in 2013, a ten-year process.
