The Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said that his country would not agree to an "accelerated procedure" for starting negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova's accession to the European Union.
Nehammer expressed his position regarding the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU
The press service of the Austrian parliament says that regarding EU enlargement, Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer explained that from Austria's point of view, it is an "engine" for reforms in the respective countries.
Austria has always supported the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans into the EU. Now, as a sign of solidarity, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova should also be offered accession prospects, Nehammer said, and categorically opposed the "accelerated procedure" for the two states.
In addition, internal EU reforms are also necessary if the Union is to be "fit" for enlargement.
The proposed start of accession negotiations with Ukraine caused heated debates in the Austrian parliament. The pro-Russian "Austrian Freedom Party" called for a veto on increasing multi-year financial support for the EU and starting negotiations with Ukraine on EU accession.
Beginning of negotiations on joining the European Union
On June 23, 2022, Ukraine and Moldova received the status of a candidate for EU membership.
Ukraine was given seven recommendations to implement to start accession negotiations.
The oral assessment from the European Commission for June 2023 said that Ukraine fulfilled two of the seven recommendations.
In November, the President of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, reported that Ukraine had completed 90% of the EU's expected reforms.
The EU summit will be held in Brussels on December 14-15, where the bloc's expansion will be discussed.
