Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky insisted Friday during his daily speech that the process of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union should begin this 2023, after the end of the summit in Kiev with several EU leaders.
«There is an understanding that it is possible to start negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union this year,» the Ukrainian leader mentioned through his evening video address.
«Today there was a lot of confidence in this regard during the summit. We talked and are talking already as members of the European community. And we are working to enshrine this by law,» Zelenski has added.
Earlier, however, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assured that Kiev is still far from EU standards in financial control policies, social and employment policies, as well as in environment and combating climate change.
This is reflected in the report on approximation to European standards, focused on Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership. This document evaluates the alignment with the acquis communautaire of the candidate country, the publication of which was pending since Brussels issued its positive opinion on the aspirations of Ukraine and Moldova last June, when it also considered the European perspective of Georgia.
Specifically, the Brussels report points out that Kiev is at an «early stage of preparation» for applying European financial control standards and stresses the need to strengthen the role of the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine in order to make its independence explicit in the Constitution, to broaden its mandate and to apply international standards in its auditing procedures.
Therefore, the Brussels legislators, although they have welcomed Ukraine’s determination and willingness to carry out the necessary reforms, have not set a definite timetable.
«We are preparing Ukraine for further integration into the EU internal market: it means more revenue for Ukrainian companies, more production and employment in our country, and more revenue for state and local budgets,» Zelenski added.
On the other hand, the Ukrainian president also highlighted the visit of the Polish Minister of Defense, Mariusz Blaszczak, and assured that he is doing everything possible so that the soldiers «receive modern tanks as soon as possible».
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
