Dutch PM explains why Ukraine should be given clear path to EU membership
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten believes the absence of a clear path for Ukraine to join the EU could destabilise Europe as a whole, not just from Russian actions.
Source: Jetten in an interview with European Pravda
Details: Jetten believes the European family should be viewed from a geopolitical perspective – not only in relation to Ukraine, but also with regard to other countries seeking to join.
"If we do not increase our cooperation and if we don't provide a clear path to EU membership, it's not only Russia but also other countries that will try to influence the process and destabilise the European continent," he said.
According to Jetten, the Europeans need to be less naive on many issues and understand that if they want a stronger continent that delivers more for its citizens, they need to work better within a modernised European Union.
"In terms of Ukrainian accession, I think we should also be careful. To prevent a lot of disappointments in the years to come, we shouldn't promise things that we are not able to deliver. So I would see a step-by-step approach. If we increase support for Ukraine in terms of all the reforms that need to take place, I'm sure Ukraine can speed up its side of the process," Jetten said.
Background:
- At a press conference in Kyiv, Jetten stated that the EU will hold debates in the coming months on realistic terms for Ukraine's accession to the EU.
- Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the European Union to set a date for Ukraine's accession to the EU without delay so that Russia, with the help of Hungary, will not be able to block the process for the next 50 years.
- However, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it is impossible to set a specific date for Ukraine's accession to the EU.
- Earlier, European Pravda reported on the European Commission's initiative to introduce new rules for candidate countries' accession to the EU: this issue was covered in detail in an exclusive interview with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos: "We don't need Orbán to determine the requirements for EU accession."
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