The European Union explained what determines the actual date of Ukraine’s accession
A departure from the standard criteria for Ukraine’s EU membership would undermine trust in the enlargement process and weaken the country’s future membership.
As reported by RBC-Ukraine, this was stated by the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, during a national telethon.
Also read: Zelensky: A clear date for Ukraine’s EU membership is a guarantee of Russia’s defeat
Why exceptions would not be beneficial
According to the European Commissioner, the classic approach to accepting new members remains relevant, despite Ukraine’s unique experience in wartime conditions.
Adhering to established rules is necessary for ensuring the country’s genuine readiness to live within the bloc.
“Exceptions for your country would not help it, nor would they strengthen it – because it would undermine trust in the entire process and your future membership,” noted Olivér Várhelyi.
He added that Ukraine should strengthen the European Union with its accession, and for that, society and the economy must undergo a complete transformation.
The pace of reforms and the timeline for accession
Olivér Várhelyi noted that the European Commission is already accelerating and streamlining procedures for Ukraine as much as possible. However, the final deadlines depend solely on the pace of internal transformations.
“Every reform brings Ukraine closer to EU membership. When reforms accelerate, accession approaches; when reforms slow down, the accession date is pushed back accordingly,” he summarized.
Ukraine’s path to the EU and the issues of 2027
Recall that the Ukrainian authorities have set an ambitious goal – to sign the accession agreement with the European Union by 2027.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated the need to determine a specific date for accession. At the same time, he noted that a clear membership timeline would guarantee Russia’s strategic defeat and security for all of Europe.
Brussels also emphasizes that there will be no accelerated procedure without fulfilling all reforms. European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi previously called Ukraine’s goal of joining the bloc by January 1, 2027, ambitious and understandable, but added that the European Commission is still only seeking ways to implement this scenario.
Despite pressure from Kyiv, there are skeptics in the EU who believe that accession in 2027 is at risk due to the complexity of the negotiation process and the need for a complete transformation of Ukrainian legislation.
