Lithuania’s foreign minister expects a positive assessment from the European Commission on Ukraine’s readiness to start negotiations on EU membership, but has no doubt that the subsequent discussions among heads of state will be difficult.
“The decision itself is kept under nine locks, but the visit of the president of the European Commission [Ursula von der Leyen] to Kyiv indicates that she would probably not go with bad news. [...] The expectation in the circle of many countries that support Ukraine, and certainly among Ukrainians themselves, is that the decision will be positive,” Gabrielius Landsbergis told LRT RADIO.
He stressed that the next steps would still have to be approved by the EU Council.
“The discussion there will be very difficult indeed. The European Union has been paralysed on many issues for almost a year,” the minister said.
Ukraine was granted EU candidate status last year and hopes to start formal negotiations later this year on what needs to be done to have its membership approved. The European Commission is due to report this week on Ukraine’s progress.
EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said while she visited Kyiv on weekend that Ukraine had “reached many milestones” on its path towards membership in the bloc.
“Reforming your justice system. Curbing the oligarchs’ grip. Tackling money laundering and much more,” she said adding she was “confident” Ukraine would progress with the accession process when these reforms were implemented.
Along with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova are also seeking to open EU membership negotiations.
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