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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Ukraine already has a “very clear European perspective” after the European Union’s decision to grant it the status of a candidate country.
“Ukraine now has a very clear European perspective. And Ukraine is a candidate country to join the European Union, something that seemed almost unthinkable just five months ago,” von der Leyen said during a virtual speech in the Ukrainian parliament.
“So today is, first of all, a reason to celebrate this historic moment, a victory of determination and a victory for the entire movement that began eight years ago on the Maidan,” she added.
However, the European Commission president urged Ukrainian officials to press ahead with anti-corruption reforms.
“You have created an impressive anti-corruption system,” she told Ukrainian MPs. “But now these institutions need a boost and the right people in high positions.”
Von der Leyen’s speech brought applause in Ukraine’s parliament and is seen as a victory for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government over its bid to become a candidate for EU membership.
She underlined that Brussels and the EU member states support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion and in its efforts to “reunite with the European family.”
Von der Leyen called on the Ukrainian parliament to pass laws in line with the norms promoted by the Council of Europe to improve the selection procedures of independent judges of the Constitutional Court.
“Institutions must function so that they fulfill people’s aspirations”, she declared.
Ukraine applied for EU membership just five days after Russia launched its invasion on February 24, while the 27 member states agreed to grant it candidate status on June 23, in a strong signal of support for the country.
But the membership process could take many years, and the candidacies of Turkey and several countries in the Western Balkans have stalled as Western countries insist on tough economic and legal criteria.
Von der Leyen praised Ukraine for becoming the EU’s only partner in Eastern Europe “that has adopted a law to combat the control of oligarchs in the country’s economic and political life.”
Next week, von der Leyen will join international and Ukrainian leaders in Lugano, Switzerland at a conference to raise funds and make plans for post-war reconstruction in Ukraine.
“Your European path and the reconstruction of the country will go hand in hand,” she said.
“Ukraine will be at the center of this conference. Investment will have to come, but to maximize its impact and boost business confidence, investment will need to be accompanied by a new wave of reforms.” concluded Von der Leyen./Rel
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