EU invites Ukraine to begin membership

Subject: IR

Section: Groupings

Context: EU invites Ukraine to begin membership

More about the news:

The European Commission has recommended inviting Ukraine to begin membership talks with the European Union (EU), provided it meets certain conditions related to corruption, lobbying laws, and national minority safeguards.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed this recommendation as a “historic step” toward Western integration.
The final decision on starting accession talks will be made by the 27 EU member states in mid-December, with Hungary being a potential obstacle.
If approved, formal accession talks with Ukraine are expected to begin next year.
Ukraine has faced significant challenges, including its ongoing conflict with Russia, but it has made progress in tackling corruption and is committed to post-war reconstruction efforts free from graft.

What is the requirement for joining the EU:

Obligation:
- According to Article 49 of the EU treaties,any European nation seeking to become an EU member must commit to upholding and promoting the EU’s fundamental values outlined in Article 2.
- These values encompass principles such as freedom, democracy, equality, and the rule of law, among others.
Consideration:
- Following the submission of an application, EU member states assess the nation’s suitability for membership based on these principles.
Specific criteria:
- The Copenhagen European Council meeting in 1993 established more detailed conditions known as the Copenhagen Criteria.
- These criteria outline the fundamental requirements that all candidate countries must meet.
- For instance, they encompass having a well-functioning market economy, maintaining a stable democracy and rule of law, and adhering to all EU legislation, including that related to the Euro.

What is the process of joining the EU:

The process for achieving European Union membership involves three distinct stages, outlined as follows:
- First stage: The country is granted the status of an official candidate. In this initial phase, the candidate nation responds to inquiries to demonstrate its alignment with the membership criteria.
- Second stage: The formal negotiations for membership commence with the candidate. This phase encompasses the integration of EU law into national legislation and the fulfillment of a wide range of requirements, referred to as the accession criteria, which pertain to the legal, administrative, economic, and other aspects.
- Third stage: Upon the successful completion of negotiations and the fulfillment of all accession criteria, the candidate becomes eligible for EU membership. The final decision regarding membership is subject to a unanimous vote by the existing EU member states, who must collectively endorse the new accession.