Mertz Calls for Accelerating Ukraine and Moldova's Accession to the European Union
German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz advocated for opening all negotiation clusters with both countries and expressed confidence that this would be achievable by the end of 2026.
Merz also stated that during negotiations, Europe must act as a united front, exert pressure on Russia, and provide long-term support to Ukraine. According to him, Moscow only understands the language of force. He emphasized that a clear prospect of Ukraine's accession to the EU must become an important part of such a policy.
According to the latest European Commission report on EU enlargement, Moldova could complete accession negotiations to the bloc by early 2028. Ukraine, according to the European Commission's assessment, would need about another year and an acceleration of reforms for this.
The European Commission highly praised Ukraine's efforts in carrying out reforms amidst Russian aggression. However, Kyiv is still expected to make significant progress in combating corruption.
In addition, Brussels has created a special working group to help Ukraine significantly accelerate reforms in the field of the rule of law. The EU also noted that the pace of transformations has recently increased: the Ukrainian parliament has adopted a number of draft laws necessary to unlock important financial assistance from the European Union.
Comments