German chancellor voices support for opening EU membership talks with Ukraine

BERLIN

Germany will actively support opening EU membership talks with Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels ahead of a key EU summit, Scholz said decisions taken by European leaders should give a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Germany strongly supports the European Commission’s proposal (to start accession talks with Ukraine), and here we’ll also actively work toward reaching a good European understanding, and a common decision,” he said.

Scholz also underlined that Germany will support opening EU membership talks with Moldova, and granting the EU candidate country status to Georgia.

Asked about Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s opposition to opening membership talks with Ukraine, Scholz said they would discuss this during their meeting.

“I am absolutely sure that this is a necessary debate here, we must make progress in this accession processes we have,” he said, adding that the EU must support Ukraine’s efforts to become a member.

Earlier, Orban argued that Ukraine has not yet fulfilled three of the seven preconditions set out by the European Commission in order to begin accession talks.

“Enlargement is not a theoretical issue. It’s a merit-based, legally detailed process which has preconditions,” the Hungarian prime minister said.

“If you haven’t fulfilled the preconditions, there’s no chance to start negotiations,” he added.