Ukraine could open EU membership talks in May-June if reforms continue – Poroshenko
Ukrainian MP and European Solidarity party leader Petro Poroshenko held a phone call with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who told him membership talks could open as early as next month or in June.
"I was assured that if Ukrainians do not stop with reforms, then in May or June we have enormous chances to de facto open Ukraine’s EU membership negotiations," Poroshenko said on Facebook on Thursday.
Kos stressed the need to agree on a schedule for considering bills in the Verkhovna Rada and to ensure the Ukrainian government is part of the negotiations, he said. "And also that the position of European Solidarity is taken into account when decisions are made. This will make it possible to hold votes already as part of the future united coalition of unity, which is fully supported by our European partners," the politician said.
"Partners noted that the doors of the European Union are open to Ukraine. The only thing is that no one will drop membership on us from the sky. This is called merit-based, meaning support for Ukraine in accordance with the results we have achieved," Poroshenko added.
As previously reported, Kos also discussed the opening of negotiating clusters on Ukraine’s EU accession with Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk in a phone call on Thursday.
"We discussed the opening of negotiating clusters and further steps in Ukraine’s EU accession process. Marta Kos expressed optimism about the European future of our state and stressed the important role of the Verkhovna Rada in advancing European integration," Stefanchuk said on Facebook.
