"Ukraine must become a member of the EU": Borrell called to prepare for the expansion of the Union

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has said that the bloc should fix a "horizon" for new members. According to him, the bloc should prepare for Ukraine to become its full member.

He said this at a briefing after an informal meeting of foreign ministers in Toledo (Spain) on Thursday, August 31, EP reports. Borrell noted that it is necessary to establish an approximate time of accession of new members to the European Union.

The top diplomat emphasized that the issue of enlargement "has been hovering over our discussions."

"Ukraine should become a member of the EU, as should the Western Balkans, quickly. I think the war in Ukraine had the side effect of speeding up the enlargement process, which is a merit-based process: a candidate state will become a member when it fulfills all the conditions," Borrell emphasized.

However, according to the European diplomat, it is worth "fixing a political goal, a horizon, to give the political process a push."

"And (a push. - Ed.) for us, because we also have to prepare for enlargement, which could lead to ten new members," he added.

Borrell added that the "temporary goal" of European Union enlargement could "mobilize our energy and the energy of the candidate states."

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that one of the priorities of the work of the Ukrainian authorities in September will be the accession of our state to the European Union. In particular, parliament needs to pass several bills. They have already been prepared.

The head of state also said that Ukraine is fully prepared for negotiations on membership in the European Union. They should start already this year.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL, the EU is working on a plan for long-term military assistance to Ukraine, which gives a rebuff to Russian aggression. It will include, in particular, both continued support with weapons and training of our military.

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