EU Commission chief sees support for Ukraine’s EU membership as ‘moral duty’

BRUSSELS

It is a moral duty to make possible Ukraine’s EU membership, the EU Commission chief said on Thursday.

Speaking at the GLOBSEC 2022 Bratislava Forum, Ursula von der Leyen said “it's not only our strategic interest, but it is our moral duty to make it possible” that Ukrainians join the EU knowing their brave fight for their future.

“Ukrainians are fighting so bravely because they know exactly” they want a “free and open society belonging to a strong democratic community,” she added.

Von der Leyen explained that the EU wants to combine investment for reconstruction with reforms on administration capacity, rule of law, and fight against corruption.

Their aim is to create an appealing business environment “so that investors have confidence and trust and come back and invest in Ukraine.”

She promised that the European Commission will “stand by the Ukrainians' side with all the track record we have, with all the experience we have” to achieve these reforms leading to EU accession.

At the same time, she noted that the speed of the accession process is depending on Ukraine and the bloc’s support as well.

Only four days after Russia launched a war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially signed his country's request to join the EU.

The European Commission is currently assessing the questionnaire that Ukraine completed and returned in April.

In the coming weeks, the EU executive body will deliver its opinion if the country can receive the candidate status and start membership negotiations as the first phase of the process.

EU leaders are expected to assess the report at their next summit on June 23-24.