EU could admit new members by 2030, praises Ukraine

(CLO) The European Union (EU) may admit new members by 2030, with Ukraine being a potential candidate alongside several other countries.

The European Commission (EC) said on November 4 that the EU could welcome new members as early as 2030, while praising the progress of Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova in implementing reforms needed to join the bloc.

The flag of the European Union. Photo: CC BY-SA 2.0

However, the EC expressed dissatisfaction with the reform process of Serbia and Georgia, thereby making these two countries now only considered "nominal candidates".

Speaking at the launch of the EC's annual report on potential candidates' accession efforts, EC Vice-President Kaja Kallas asserted in Brussels that "enlarging the Union is in our best interests".

“Access to the European Union remains a fair, difficult and merit-based process. But EU membership by 2030 is now a realistic target,” Ms Kallas added.

European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said Montenegro, a Balkan nation of about 600,000 people, was the fastest-moving candidate.

Ms. Kos also praised Albania for making "unprecedented progress," while Moldova, despite pressure from sharing a border with Ukraine, has also accelerated at a "faster pace" in its reform efforts.

Ms Kos said Ukraine had shown a “strong commitment” to reforms to join the EU. But she also warned of the need to “maintain this momentum and prevent any risk of backsliding, especially on fighting corruption”.

The EC report also stated that Ukraine needs to make more progress in rule of law reforms.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support on X: "We expect decisive action from the EU to overcome all obstacles to a strong and united Europe."

Mr. Zelenskyy also aims to join the EU before 2030. This ambition is considered "difficult" due to the huge number of reforms that Ukraine must carry out, along with the "fear" of current EU members about admitting a war-torn country.

Source: https://congluan.vn/lien-minh-chau-au-co-the-ket-nap-thanh-vien-moi-vao-nam-2030-khen-ngoi-ukraine-10316611.html