For now Germany, Italy and France are focused on Ukraine joining the EU proper. But this process requires unanimous approval from all members
Save time by listening to our audio articles as you multitaskbefore it was invaded by Russia on February 24th. Days later, even while enemy troops were marching towards Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a formal request for accession . Ukraine’s neighbours already within the bloc, most notably Poland, say giving it the nod is a moral duty. Ukrainians are dying for European values; a promise of a future within theJoining theis arduous even for places not ravaged by war.
The experience of the western Balkans is a cautionary tale. Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania are all official candidates for accession; Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo are “potential candidates”. The lure of membership was meant to bring the region into the’s orbit. But the snail’s pace of talks—which have not even started, in the case of North Macedonia and Albania—has led to disenchantment. It has pushed the likes of Serbia closer to Russia and China.
One idea, put forward by Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, is for countries to feel the benefits of accession before joining the. Currently, candidates undertake painful reforms for years to adopt the bloc’s exacting standards on everything from competition law to pet passports. Most benefits come only once they become members, many years down the line.
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