The path to the EU will take years: what are the realistic terms of Ukraine’s European integration?

The European Union’s decision to begin negotiations on Ukraine’s accession is a positive step, but the country needs to adopt about 300 European integration laws.

In a comment to “Pryamoy”, the Chairman of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, Oleksiy Koshel, called on to set aside unnecessary emotions and pragmatically assess the real terms of obtaining full membership.

“I will be a great optimist, let’s say, by 2030-2032. I believe that this is an extremely optimistic scenario. There are very big homework tasks for us here,” he emphasized.

According to the expert, to meet Brussels’ demands, the Verkhovna Rada must change its approach to work, abandon vacations, and increase the duration of sessions. In addition, Ukraine will have to resolve acute disputes with neighboring states, in particular Poland and Hungary, since joining the union is impossible without resolving cross-border problems.

At the same time, according to Koschel, the European Union’s decision to begin substantive negotiations with Ukraine reflects the weakening of Moscow’s geopolitical positions.

“Russia has also repeatedly voiced its vision that they are not against Ukraine becoming part of the European Union. That is, they may have their own pragmatic considerations. That is, they may think in terms of weakening the EU, strengthening the EU…” – noted the head of the CVU.

At the same time, the analyst warned that certain countries will try to create hidden obstacles due to their dependence on Russian cheap energy sources or nuclear projects. However, the general trend remains unchanged – the more actively the countries of Eastern Europe reduce their dependence on Moscow, the better for Ukraine, – summed up Oleksiy Koshel.

On the eve of the European Union countries unanimously approved the start of negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the EU. The first intergovernmental conference will be held on June 15, at which the first negotiating cluster “Fundamentals” will be opened.

As a reminder, the European Union has begun the official procedure for opening the first negotiation cluster for Ukraine on its path to EU membership. This is Cluster No. 1, “Fundamentals”, which covers the issues of the rule of law, democratic institutions, and public administration.

Earlier it became known that Ukraine and the European Union may open two negotiation clusters within the framework of the EU accession process as early as June. It is noted that the expansion of the negotiation process became possible due to progress in consultations between Ukraine and Hungary on the rights of the Hungarian national minority.

Meanwhile, the European Union is looking for ways to speed up the Western Balkans’ accession to the bloc, a matter that is set to be discussed at an upcoming summit of European leaders and representatives of candidate countries.

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