EU Standing President "Support for Ukraine's EU Membership by 2030"

Charles Michel, President of the European Union (EU) Council, stated on the 4th (local time) that he supports Ukraine's EU membership by 2030, provided certain conditions are met.

In an interview with local German media on the same day, he said, "Ukraine can become a member of the EU by 2030," adding, "This is on the condition that both sides complete the necessary tasks." He further noted, "Ukraine's swift accession will demonstrate that the EU is geopolitically capable of taking action."

However, President Michel mentioned the prerequisite that "Ukraine and other candidate countries must implement reforms, fight corruption, and meet legal preconditions."

The candidate countries for EU membership include six Western Balkan states: T?rkiye, Moldova, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia. Ukraine has been an official EU candidate country since June last year. Unanimous approval from all EU member states is required to start accession negotiations.

President Michel reportedly emphasized that, given the increasing influence of China and Russia in the Western Balkans, the EU must make a swift decision.