Candidate Countries News Today

Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values ​​and Transparency, believes that the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU will not last for decades, although it will take some time.

The EU Commission's support for Ukraine membership talks can revitalize stagnating admission processes of other candidate countries, the EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Nov. 13, Ukrinform reported.

Although no new countries have joined the EU in the last decade, the topic of the bloc’s enlargement has now found fresh impetus that may be favorable for Ukraine, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova said in an interview with NV on Nov. 7.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock hinted at a positive decision on Ukraine's accession to the EU from EU leaders at the December summit based on the European Commission's assessment of Ukraine's fulfilment of the candidate criteria.

"We want to see Ukraine as a member of our Union. And I am convinced that the European Council will give a signal this December," Baerbock said at a press conference on EU enlargement in Berlin.

Ukraine's accelerated candidacy has hastened the EU's need to implement comprehensive reforms, including treaty reform and changes to the bloc's voting structure.

EU governments are far from agreement on any of them. The EU decides on most things by qualified majority, but on foreign and security policy, taxes, EU finances, some areas of justice and home affairs, social security, enlargement and changes to EU treaties, a single veto can scuttle change. Unanimity is already difficult among the 27 EU members and if eight candidate countries join, unanimity among 35 would be even harder.

“Ukraine may indeed become a member of the EU in 2030 if both sides do their homework," European Council President Charles Michel said.

Learn how the MCC Board of Directors will identify, evaluate, and select eligible countries for fiscal year 2024.

EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell wants to set a date for candidate countries such as Ukraine to join the bloc, Dutch newspaper Leidsch Dagblad reported on Aug. 31.