KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s top official for Europe says the war-torn country is on an “irreversible” course of Western integration after the European Union agreed to formally start accession negotiations this week.
The decision to start accession negotiations this week is a “big day” for her country, said Olga Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
“This is the ultimate will of the Ukrainian people. And this is irreversibility. And you have seen Ukrainians standing up for their choice,” Stefanishyna said in Kiev on Sunday.
It was her first interview since she was appointed chief negotiator for EU accession.
EU leaders agreed on Friday to start accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova – overcoming vocal opposition led by Hungary, which takes over the EU’s rotating presidency on July 1.
Stefanishyna will lead the opening of accession negotiations in Luxembourg on Tuesday, accompanied by several top officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to deliver a speech at the launch ceremony, but Stefanishyna did not indicate whether he would do so in person or online.
Zelenskyy described Friday’s decision as a “historic step,” adding in an online post: “Generations of our people are realizing their European dream. Ukraine returns to Europe.
Opinion polls by the European Parliament earlier this year showed that EU citizens broadly support Ukraine’s membership request, but are less in favor of an accelerated process.
Ukraine, Stefanishyna said, was not looking for special treatment.
“Ukraine is moving quickly,” she said, “without skipping elements of the process (and) without asking for any discount.”
Russia has used economic pressure and ultimately military force to try to reverse its former Soviet neighbor’s aspirations to join Western alliances it views as hostile.
Deadly protests a decade ago demanding the government stick to its promise to forge closer ties with the EU put the country on a collision course with Russia.
“It’s a big day for everyone,” says Stefanishyna, who frequently showed emotion while describing the integration process. “It has been about two years since Ukraine applied for membership. The war is still raging, but accession is starting now.”
Stefanishyna, a 38-year-old lawyer who has worked in the civil service and government since her early 20s, will lead Ukraine’s 35-member delegation for negotiations with the EU.
In 2019, Ukraine changed its constitution to include these ambitions and formally applied to join the EU on February 28, 2022 – five days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Ukraine borders EU member states Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania and would overtake France to become the bloc’s largest member if it were to join, shifting the center of gravity further east.
Along with Moldova, the country finds itself in a long line of other candidates – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey – some with membership ambitions spanning decades.
Ukraine hopes to join in 2030.
Although Ukraine has been praised for making progress since accession, it must implement dozens of institutional and legal reforms necessary for membership. The list is led by anti-corruption steps and includes broad reforms to public administration, the judiciary and market rules.
More than a thousand people in Ukraine are already involved in the accession process, which will take place without a summer break.
“The next six months will be crucial for our key negotiators,” she said, adding that Ukraine must come up with a clear reform plan.
“Ukraine’s accession process and membership are our president’s top priority,” she said. “Ukraine is a bit crazy and obsessed with the EU accession process.” ___
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