Politico's sources in the EU believe that the change in the position of the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen regarding the schedule of the negotiation process with Ukraine on its accession is connected with the elections.
Why did von der Leyen change negotiations with Ukraine
At last Wednesday's press conference, von der Leyen did not discuss Ukraine's next step to the EU — the presentation of the negotiating framework — before the European elections, which will be held in June this year.
But three days later, during a visit to Kyiv, she returned to the original schedule and announced that Euromission would take the next formal step regarding Ukraine's application for EU membership in mid-March.
Six high-ranking EU officials, who spoke to the publication on the condition of anonymity, linked such a reversal in von der Leyen's statements to the pre-election struggle for a second term as head of the European Commission.
It was another reminder that from now on we have to follow her every step as the progress of the election campaign, said one of the officials of the European Commission.
One French diplomat said von der Leyen's statements appeared "reasonable ... given the debate surrounding the European elections and the amount of work that needs to be done to create a valid, credible and useful negotiating base for Ukraine."
What is the reason for the decision?
An EU diplomat said von der Leyen's comments about delaying the presentation of the negotiating framework appeared to be a combination of pressure from her political group, the European People's Party, and several EU countries.
France and Poland are afraid of farmers, Germany is afraid of finances, the diplomat said.
According to two other diplomats, a group of EU ambassadors, mainly from Eastern Europe, contacted von der Leyen's cabinet chief after her first statement on Ukraine, asking for a meeting to clarify the commission's line on EU enlargement and demanding concrete commitments.
Diplomats said that this behind-the-scenes pressure prompted von der Leyen to make a U-turn and return to the commission's original commitments regarding the March discussions on Ukraine's accession.
