Ukraine EU member? A process of years and years

Correspondent Aïda Brands over de procedure:

“If Russia had not invaded Ukraine, the candidate membership procedure might not have been discussed. Member States are not going to say ‘no’ very loudly now, and they want to encourage Ukraine. They say things like ‘you belongs” and “we are family.” But that doesn’t mean Ukraine is accelerating its membership. Only a handful of countries out of 27 are for that, sources say.

Corruption is still a really big problem in Ukraine. The EU has sent a lot of money to fight this, but the European Court of Auditors has always concluded: it does not work or does not work well enough to fight corruption. And to become a member of the EU it is quite essential that you have that in order.

Nevertheless, the countries will certainly want to make a gesture to Ukraine. In their eyes, the country is fighting for everything the EU stands for. And although EU membership is not an option in the short term, the countries will go to great lengths to support Ukraine.”

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