Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Ukraine and the European Union are entering a new chapter in their history, after accepting the country’s candidacy for membership of the European bloc.
We are closer now. Now we are closer together,” Zelensky said, addressing the Ukrainian parliament, hailing the beginning of a new chapter in the history of his country’s relations with the European Union.
“It is a great honor and a great responsibility” work to “fulfill the aspirations” of the country, added the head of state.
Zelensky emphasized that the Ukraine made “a 115-day journey to obtain candidate status” to the EUarguing that the country’s path to accession “should not take decades”.
“Ukraine fights to choose the values (it defends) to be within the ‘European family,'” the Ukrainian president said.
After the intervention of the head of state, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, speaking by videoconference to the Ukrainian leaders and deputies, said that the country’s accession is within their reach and encouraged the parliamentarians to accelerate the reforms against the corruption.
He also welcomed the adoption of a law in kyiv aimed at undoing “the excessive influence of the oligarchs on the economy.” The flag of the European Union and the flag of Ukraine stood together during the parliamentary session in kyiv.
Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Chmygal and Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Rouslan Stefantchouk signed the compromise document symbolizing the state’s unity in efforts to join the European Union.
Ukraine officially applied to join the European Union five days after Russia’s invasion on February 24. The 27 member states of the European Union accepted the candidacy on June 23.
Even so, the process can take years, as is the case with the application for membership of Turkey and the Balkan countries, due in particular to the strict criteria on the rule of law and the economy of the candidate countries.
Source: Observadora
