European Council President António Costa is actively working to advance Ukraine’s EU membership application despite Hungary’s opposition ahead of the EU leaders’ summit in Copenhagen, writes Politico.
Source: Gazeta.UA
According to sources, Costa is securing support from European capitals to start negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. He proposes opening negotiation clusters with the approval of a qualified majority of EU countries, rather than requiring unanimous consent as is currently the case.
Unanimity will still be required to close clusters, but simplifying the start will allow Ukraine and Moldova to begin reforms and demonstrate progress, even if one or two countries oppose.
Diplomats report that Costa is persuading leaders during his tour of European capitals and in bilateral meetings within the UN General Assembly framework.
EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Maarta Kosh, will visit Ukraine on September 29. She stated that the country has already completed its legislative review and fulfilled its obligations, making it ready for the next step:
“All clusters have already been completed in record time. Ukraine is ready. Now it’s up to the member states.”
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