Ukraine official makes plea for EU candidate status

Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, made his comments in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk, left, is welcomed by European Parliament president Roberta Metsola

The speaker of the Ukrainian parliament has made a plea for his country to be named a candidate for European Union membership, a move that would bring the war-torn nation closer to the EU without guaranteeing its admittance.

Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, told EU lawmakers that failing to give Ukraine a sign of an open door would be a clear signal to Russian president Vladimir Putin that “he can be totally going forward without any punishment”.

European heads of state and government are expected to consider Ukraine’s bid for EU candidate status at the end of June. The European Parliament has already passed a resolution in favour of making Ukraine a membership candidate.

Ruslan Stefanchuk, centre, delivers a speech at the European Parliament (Jean-Francois Badias/AP)

“Let’s do everything possible that on June 24 we’ll see a watershed day, an important day for us, and our joint great victory,” Mr Stefanchuk said.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, is expected to deliver its opinion next week based on Ukraine’s answers to a questionnaire received in April and early May.

Ukraine currently has an association agreement with the EU, which is aimed at opening Ukraine’s markets and bringing it closer to Europe. This includes a far-reaching free trade pact.

Roberta Mestola, president of the EU legislature, said lawmakers would continue supporting Ukraine’s effort to obtain candidate status.

Mr Stefanchuk arrives to deliver a speech at the European Parliament — Mr Stefanchuk arrives to deliver his speech at the European Parliament (Jean-Francois Badias/AP)

Ms Metsola said reaching the step in the accession process would benefit Ukraine by furthering its integration into the region.

The 27 EU nations have been united in backing Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s invasion, adopting unprecedented economic sanctions against Moscow since the start of the war in February.

But leaders are divided on how quickly the EU should move to accept Ukraine as a member. Admitting a new member country requires unanimous agreement from the EU’s current members.

Before Russia’s war in Ukraine, the European Commission repeatedly expressed concern in recent years about corruption in Ukraine and the need for deep political and economic reforms.

Mr Stefanchuk, left, and European Parliament president Roberta Metsola (Jean-Francois Badias/AP)

The French government has made clear it thinks it is unrealistic to expect Ukraine to join the EU any time soon, saying the process would take many years, “in fact probably several decades”.

The Ukrainian bid has received warm support in Eastern European countries, but EU officials have stressed the process could take years.

Speaking in Strasbourg on Wednesday, Irish leader Micheal Martin backed Ukraine’s application and said he hoped EU leaders would “send the people of Ukraine a clear and positive message”.

He said the EU “should support those looking to join in undertaking the reforms and preparations necessary”, adding that Ireland’s experience was that EU “membership is transformative”.