Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his desire to commence enlargement talks between the European Union and Ukraine before the conclusion of Spain’s six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU on Dec. 31.
Sanchez shared his hope to initiate accession negotiations with Ukraine and close the Spanish presidency on a positive note. He mentioned that the European Commission’s report about Ukraine is known and he is eager to take the next step.
The European Commission had made a recommendation on Nov. 8 for Kyiv to be invited to start membership talks once it fulfills the remaining conditions related to curbing corruption, adopting lobbying laws as per EU standards, and enhancing national minority protections.
Sanchez emphasized that he sees this as an opportune moment for the EU to welcome Ukraine, Moldova, and the countries of the West Balkans into its fold.
A summit is scheduled for EU countries to discuss Ukraine’s membership bid, along with the potential expansion of the EU to include Georgia, Moldova, and western Balkan countries like Montenegro.
Hungary declared on Monday that it would not succumb to pressure from other EU members to approve accession talks with Ukraine, setting the stage for a showdown at the summit.
The final decision on Ukraine’s membership bid, as well as the EU’s 12th package of sanctions against Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, requires the unanimous support of all 27 EU countries.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro and Emma Pinedo; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Andrei Khalip)
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