Ukraine formally applied for European Union membership on Monday, but the process is likely to continue for several more years despite support from members of the community following the Russian invasion. Ukraine may become a candidate this year, but negotiations to bring its legislation in line with EU norms will take much longer, the report says on the issue.
For Poland, which is similar in population to Ukraine, and also under communism, from 1994 to 2004, in peacetime and in stable democratic institutions, it took 10 years from applying for membership to joining the community.
To become a member of the EU, Ukraine will have to fulfill the following conditions and take the following steps:
- Each candidate country must respect human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, a pluralistic society and promote non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality among men. and women.
- There must be stable institutions that guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights, respect for and protection of minorities, a functioning market economy and the ability to cope with competition and market forces in the EU. It must be able to assume and effectively fulfill the obligations of membership, including the objectives of political, economic and monetary union.
What is the procedure
Ukraine has filed a formal application for membership in the EU Council, and now the European Commission must give an opinion. It takes 15 to 18 months on average, but senior EU officials say the process can be accelerated if there is political will.
If the opinion is positive, Ukraine will receive candidate status, provided that all EU governments unanimously vote in favor.
As a candidate country, Ukraine will start negotiations to bring its legislation in line with the EU legal framework. Community legislation is divided into policy areas called 35 chapters. One chapter closes when the candidate country shows that it has already implemented EU legislation in that area or will do so by the date of accession.
There may be transitional provisions on whether and how certain rules should be phased in to give the acceding country time to adapt. This issue is discussed mainly at the final stage of negotiations.
When all chapters are closed, the EU and Ukraine must prepare an accession treaty, which must be approved by all governments in the community and with the consent of the European Parliament. The treaty is then signed by each EU country and acceding country and ratified.