Ukraine EU candidate? Zelenski receives a message from Brussels today
There is no question of direct She also knows that. Ukraine hopes it will become a candidate member. The way is cleared to negotiate.
“We are fighting to survive. We are also fighting to become a comparable member of Europe. Prove you are on our side,” Zelenski said earlier.
Ifs and buts
The European Commission will present the advice today. Every word will be played meticulously in Kiev. Because can Ukraine become a candidate member and negotiations can start, or does the advice still contain the words ‘if’ and ‘but’.
If the candidate for membership is actually clothed with real terms, the Ukrainian president will feel quite mortified. “‘We are here to defend Europe, then Europe can also give something back’, that’s how they feel about it here,” says correspondent Jeroen Akkermans. He is currently in Ukraine.
Support for Ukraine
Ultimately, the advice of the European Commission is important, but not decisive. It is the 27 EU countries that deal with the consequences of new ones. Next week European heads of government will meet during an EU summit.
The countries’ proposal now supports candidate membership. Eastern European countries are registered the most pronounced. But large countries are also involved. The leaders of Germany, France and Italy were in Kiev yesterday and spoke out. “Ukraine belongs to the European family,” said German Chancellor Scholz.
The support is appreciated in Ukraine, says Akkermans. “Until now, she thought: we’ll just have to wait and see. The fact that a path is being mapped out is very much appreciated.”
the Netherlands reluctant
none will continue to take place. The Netherlands is such a rebellious boy in the European class. The cabinet is against an accelerated candidate membership of Ukraine. The cabinet does not consider it fair if Ukraine is given priority over other countries.
“The Netherlands has been very hesitant in recent months. After dissatisfaction with earlier, rapid expansions, our country has shown restraint”, political reporter Fons Lambie. “More EU in the House is not a popular message. So The Hague insists on a careful second procedure.”
Membership view
“Certainly for Rutte, this is a politically sensitive file,” says Lambie. In 2016, it voted against in a referendum on the association agreement with Ukraine. Rutte had the Dutch objections recorded in an appendix. It was drafted that the treaty should not be a prelude to EU membership.
In the corridors can be heard that the Commission also has to make proposals. A possible compromise could be a candidate membership with a number of conditions. That is not what Zelensky is hoping for.
Lambie: “It would be a typical Brussels compromise, where Ukraine gets a view on the lid of the cases that are taken. What should happen at the next week of the EU summit.”
Mood is turning
The Hague is prepared to compromise, sees Lambie. In the cabinet you hear: The Netherlands will not start. Years, if it ever comes to that. For example, the CDA is ‘to’ Ukraine deserves support, you hear there.”
Once the European Commission’s advice has been published, the cabinet will issue an official position.