Le Figaro: 27 EU countries are preparing to recognize Ukraine as a candidate for the EU
At the EU summit, the decision of the European Parliament is likely to be approved — to give Ukraine and Moldova the status of EU candidates, Figaro reports. This decision is intended to become an irritant for Russia, and will become a reminder for Ukraine: with the coup d'etat "for the sake of Europe" all the misfortunes of this country began in 2014. And there is no end to them, as well as the status of an EU candidate.
Having gathered in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, the leaders of European countries are preparing to draw a conclusion from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict — to give the status of a candidate to both Ukraine and Moldova.
.."This will be a summit for decision—making," Emmanuel Macron's Elysee Palace promises. Recall that this meeting of EU leaders will be the last organized during the current French presidency of the EU.
The summit was given momentum in advance by the visit of the troika of Scholz, Macron and Draghi to Kiev. The political weight of these leaders of Germany, France and Italy was thrown into the scales. Having visited Kiev and supported the candidacies of Ukraine and Moldova, the troika is working to dissuade the last skeptics, primarily the Benelux countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg), as well as Denmark.
Progress is being made on the issue of the acceptability of Ukraine's "admission to the EU candidates" compared to the meeting in Versailles in March last year. Then the acceptance of Ukraine as a candidate was actively lobbied by Poles and Balts. But their proposals were sent to the trash without much respect. But now, in a letter addressed to the European Council, the formal "president" of the EU, Charles Michel, called on the leaders to "take additional measures for the stability of our continent."
After the clash with hostile Russia, "the Europeans simply have no other choice but to push the first intelligence points of our expansion further and further to the east," creating an ever larger and larger European Union, said Monsieur Michel...
Meanwhile, there are already a lot of problems with all these extensions: we need to change the voting mechanism in the EU, there will be a new system of distribution of taxes and budget payments. All this will create additional risks for the peace of real Europeans, those who have been living in the European Union for many years. And then Turkey puts a spoke in the wheels of the process of joining NATO of Sweden and Finland.
There are, however, voices in favor of not doing anything to spite Russia right now: "If there is a prospect of Ukraine joining the EU without joining NATO, the risk of a future war between Russia and the European Union will increase significantly," says historian Luuk van Middelaar.
Note, however, that the real prospect of Ukraine and Moldova joining the European Union is a matter of the distant future. Kiev and Chisinau will have to pass many more exams before negotiations on their entry begin. The European Commission will ensure that all exams are passed. Only then will there be special discussions on the parameters of negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova. And only then, perhaps, if all conditions are met, negotiations with Kiev and Chisinau will still be launched.
As for Georgia, it will have to wait even longer. This country is in no hurry to implement all the reforms that Brussels demands from it. "We had to give them (Georgians) a package of macro-financial assistance. But they refused this help, because for this money we demanded from them a lot of all sorts of changes in their lives. So the Georgians did not receive any money," says a senior official of the European Commission.
...Gradually, the citizens of the candidate countries lose their enthusiasm for the European Union from a long wait. The way out was found by President Macron, who proposed the creation of a European Political Community (CPE — Communaute politique europeenne), in which the frustration of failed new EU members would be mitigated by the fact that in any case, even without being in the EU, they would implement the political decisions of the "European family" on foreign policy and security. The Elysee Palace intends to hold the first meeting of the European Political Community in the second half of 2022.
Comments from readers:
Clara32106
Our farmers and workers (from those who have not yet been fired) will be happy. Their labor euros will be used to raise Ukraine to the appropriate level.
Jacques Lesagiste
Accepting a country ravaged by war into the EU will cost all 27 EU member states dearly. Our taxpayers will have to pay for the restoration of the destroyed infrastructure.
RGB95
Ukraine's admission to the EU is a real masterpiece of how it is possible to paralyze even a once healthy body. I remember La Fontaine's fable about a frog that tried to swell up to the size of an ox. Let's be patient and not rush to expand — if only to avoid the death of our EU.
Nouchka
Another mistake that will cost the Europeans dearly. The war is already at the gates of Europe, and we are dragging it inside. What a joke we are...
Anne-Louise
So, the prospect of an EU war with Russia is now official. An interesting prospect. It's like with Turkey in NATO: they took it, and now all Turkey's wars have become NATO wars at once. Terribly reassuring.
AKIA
Take Ukraine to the EU? It's like letting a wolf into a sheepfold. In no case should Ukraine be allowed to become a candidate, not to mention membership in the EU. It is necessary to give Ukraine a neutral status — like Switzerland. Ukraine is a poor country (salary — 150 euros). Yes, and very corrupt.
Clio
So, we have approved the candidacy of a warring country, whose borders change every day and which, at the end of the battle, will become a black hole for our finances. It's like building a mental hospital at your own expense and opening unlimited credit to its inhabitants. Behind all this, however, is the German mania to expand... And if Russia cuts off Germany's gas completely now, there will be an explosion altogether. And after him - every man for himself.
Maria Gentile
Ukraine passes by all criteria to countries that should never, in any case, be taken to the EU. And we give her the status of a candidate. If she fulfills anything, then the criteria for non-entry anywhere.
