France: There is no such thing as Ukraine joining the EU quickly

On May 22, the Minister of European Affairs of France Clement Beaune said that it is not possible that Ukraine can quickly join the European Union, but the process will take a very long time.

“We have to be honest. If we say that Ukraine will join the EU in six months, a year or two years, we are lying. That’s not right. Maybe 15 or 20 years. It took a very long time,” Beaune told Paris-based Radio J.

“I don’t want to give Ukrainians any illusions or lies,” he added.

Minister Beaune – described by Politico as a “trustworthy protégé” of French President Emmanuel Macron – was appointed European Affairs Minister in the government led by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on May 20.

Mr. Beaune suggested that Ukraine should become a part of EU political life, but first of all Ukraine could join a European political community as President Macron proposed. “In the meantime, we owe the Ukrainians… a political project in which they can participate,” Mr. Beaune said.

Earlier this month, President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that Ukraine’s EU accession process could take “several decades”. “Even if we make them candidates tomorrow, we all know well that the process of allowing them to participate will take years, in fact decades,” Macron said at the meeting. session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 9 May.

Instead, EU could establish a “European political community” for Ukraine and other non-members, “which would allow democratic European states… to find a new space for political cooperation, security, energy cooperation, transport, investment, infrastructure…” – suggested the French President.

However, Mr. Macron’s proposal did not receive the support of top Ukrainian officials. Kiev rejects any attempt to replace it as a full member of the EU. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the idea of ​​being the result of pressure from Russia.

“We don’t need to compromise. This will not be a compromise between Europe and Ukraine, but another agreement between Europe and Russia,” Zelensky said on May 21. “I am absolutely certain of that. This is the diplomatic and political influence of Russian officials and lobbyists,” the Ukrainian leader added.

Joining the EU has been one of the main goals of Ukraine’s pro-Western leadership for many years. The impetus to join this block has been revived since Russia launched a large-scale military operation in Ukraine at the end of February. Ukraine has submitted a formal application to join the EU and the European Commission is expected to issue a position on the matter in June.