The Austrian authorities do not believe in the possibility of Ukraine's full accession to the European Union in 2027, although Head of State Volodymyr Zelensky is actively pursuing this.
Points of attention
- The recent developments, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have impacted the EU accession process, prompting some countries to fear being left behind.
- A realistic assessment of Ukraine's progress and alignment with EU regulations is crucial before setting a firm deadline for its membership.
Ukraine's EU accession — Austria is skeptical
Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration and Family Claudia Bauer shared her opinion on this matter.
She drew attention to the fact that as of today, 9 countries, primarily the Western Balkans and Moldova, are candidates for EU membership.
According to Bauer, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine did speed up the process, but it also shifted the emphasis.
This has led to some countries fearing being left behind, as Ukraine's application is being accelerated for political reasons.
As is known, Volodymyr Zelensky recently called on official Brussels to choose a deadline for Ukraine's accession, actually proposing 2027.
However, the Austrian authorities consider this deadline unrealistic.
"We have clear rules and conditions under which a country can become a member of the European Union, and these rules apply to everyone," Bauer emphasized.
According to her, Ukraine has not yet implemented many important reforms, so it is too early to talk about its accession to the EU.
