EU may start accession negotiations with Ukraine in December

The relevant statement was made by the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola today in Brussels during a press conference following a meeting with EU heads of state and government, answering a question from an Ukrinform correspondent.

"It is clear that accession negotiations should start already this year. So our hope would be that the December European Council will be the place or the time where that step can be taken. And I make it very clear that each country has its own path. And when we talk about Ukraine it's not only about the speed with which you are exceeding to the original requests, the speed with which you answered the questionnaire, but also while fighting a war is remarkable. And that has to be recognized," said Metsola.

She noted that her position, as well as the position of the European Parliament, is very clear: when reforms are implemented, in particular in the judiciary, in the media freedom field or minority protection, then the EU should take an equivalent step to recognize these efforts.

"I would say, optimistic by the statements that I heard from the leaders both as they came into the European Council, but also within our conversations. There is momentum and that momentum will not stop and that support will not stop," the President of the European Parliament added.

As reported, the EU summit is taking place in Brussels on June 29-30, and the first item on the agenda is the situation in Ukraine and the EU's assistance in respecting its right to self-defense against Russian aggression.

Ukraine has been consistently implementing the European Commission's seven reform recommendations on its path to membership and hopes to receive a positive assessment of these efforts during the European Commission's fall report on enlargement. This should open up the possibility for Ukraine and the EU to decide to start negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU by the end of this year.