Ambassador Maasikas Explained Terms of Ukraine's EU Accession

Ukraine will definitely become a member of the European Union, but it's difficult to say exact timelines as it depends on the candidate, as the EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Matti Maasikas, believes.

"In the EU accession process, almost everything depends on the candidate. On you. The President of the European Council has recently voiced a very accurate and encouraging term: 'from the future member country.' So, it depends on how you do your 'homework,'" Maasikas said in an interview with European Pravda.

Commenting on President Charles Michel's statement about the need for the EU to prepare for enlargement by 2030, the ambassador noted that it is possible.

"It could be. If you recall it, President Michel was talking about both, the future member states and the EU itself to be ready for enlargement by that date. It is not bad to set goals, some deadlines. This helps to focus minds and tackle the issues you are dealing with more determination and precision," Maasikas added.

He is confident that the EU has "risen to the occasion" to see Ukraine among its members.

"You know very well that several things the EU has done since February 24 of last year were unthinkable just the day before. The new push for EU enlargement is one of them. The second element is the persistent and strong support that the EU gives to Ukraine," the diplomat added.

He pointed to the results of Eurobarometer survey in the spring of 2023, which showed that early 70% of people in EU countries support their own government's policy and the EU's policy towards Ukraine.

"There were many fears about the 'Ukraine fatigue' not only in Kyiv. The support of EU citizens is rock solid. It also helps European democratic governments support Ukraine," Maasikas emphasised.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna stated that Ukraine would not fully meet all seven EC criteria by October. However, accession talks will still begin.

In June, the European Commission presented an oral assessment of Ukraine's progress towards the EU. The European Commission believes that Ukraine has fully implemented two out of seven conditions necessary to open accession negotiations, and progress has been made on the remaining conditions.