EP president invites start of negotiations for Ukraine's membership this year

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola during her visit to Ukraine called for the Ukrainian state to be allowed to start EU membership negotiations this year.

“I am hopeful that accession negotiations can begin this year”, Metsola said in Lviv. “Ukraine's future is in the European Union”.

The final decision will depend on the governments of EU member states, some of which are sceptical that Ukraine can recover from war and ratify the necessary democratic reforms to qualify for membership.

Brussels granted Kiev official candidate status in June, four months after the start of Russian aggression, but the EU membership process needs its usual several years, writes AFP, Klankosova.tv.

But, Metsola, who met with President Zelensky and Chief Parliamentary Stefanchuk, is one of the most optimistic diplomats in Brussels that membership and reforms can accelerate.

After the meeting, Zelensky in social media thanked her for her role in ensuring the European Parliament's support for its membership application.

“Ukrainian aims to complete implementation of the European Commission's recommendations as soon as possible and start negotiations on EU membership already this year, the Ukrainian president said.

After formal negotiations begin, the European Commission will have to judge whether Kiev has met EU membership criteria, in terms of good governance, democratic freedoms and the rule of law, and then issue its opinion.

Later, leaders of the 27 current EU membership will decide whether and when to accept their new neighbour. The process has often lasted more than five years, and it has stopped for several candidates like Turkey and Western Balkan countries.