The President of the European Council Charles Michel considers the enlargement of the European Union is a complex process, a road with many stages, but it is important to take a step towards the enlargement. In an interview with RFE/RL, the official said that he does not want to take into account an eventual failure of the upcoming European Council’s meeting, IPN reports.
Charles Michel said he is still working on “Plan A” when it comes to giving the green light to opening accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and granting Georgia EU candidate status. “I think it must be possible to make an additional step. And I'm working on Plan A, not on other plans,” he noted.
RFE/RL wrote that heading into the December 14-15 summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has demanded EU leaders avoid any decision on Ukraine's coveted goal of getting a green light for membership talks even as the country fights Russia’s full-scale invasion. Orban insists that a "strategic discussion" is needed first about Ukraine.
“It’s the good news, the positive news: support from 26 leaders for more money for Ukraine, more financial support, and more military equipment for Ukraine. At the same time, we have one country, Hungary, which is expressing some doubts and some reluctance. We need to convince Hungary, and we are working on that day and night to prepare the European Council, and I hope we can deliver,” Charles Michel stated in the interview with Radio Free Europe.
Decisions on the enlargement of the bloc and a review of its long-term budget, which includes 50 billion euros ($54.1 billion) in aid for Kyiv, must be agreed unanimously by all 27 member countries. Ukraine is counting on the EU funds to help its economy survive in the coming year.
Michel said all of the other 26 member states support further assistance to Kyiv, including the economic aid package, and he was quick to dismiss the suggestion that accession talks be postponed for the “strategic debate” Orban has floated.
“Everyone can see what is at stake and what are the positions expressed by the different countries,” said the EU official, noting that by taking courageous decisions, they will also encourage others to follow them.
At the beginning of November, the European Commission recommended opening accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine. A final decision is to be taken at the European Council’s summit of December 14-15.
