The European Commission to Recommend EU Membership Talks for Ukraine

The European Commission is preparing to recommend membership negotiations for Ukraine. Possible interim terms will be discussed by EU leaders as early as this December, Bloomberg reports.

The publication believes that starting membership negotiations with the EU will strengthen Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amid the challenging counteroffensive against the aggressor country, Russia.

However, the EU may insist on progress in certain priority areas, including combating corruption, as necessary interim steps, according to individuals who requested anonymity during private discussions.

In early December, in Granada, Spain, EU leaders will discuss the enlargement process and how to prepare for new members, including Western Balkan countries and Moldova.

Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the Commission, stated that the EU should continue its integration and open the door to new candidates to provide Europe with 'geopolitical weight and action capability.'

The accession process is merit-based, but 'we have seen great progress that Ukraine has already made since we granted it candidate status' in June of last year, von der Leyen noted.

So, the executive body of the European Union is preparing to recommend starting membership negotiations with Ukraine. This will ensure Kyiv continues to receive military and financial support from allies.

After the Commission provides its recommendation, EU leaders will likely sign it at a summit in December. Afterward, Ukraine will embark on the lengthy process of completing reforms and aligning itself with EU legislation in over 30 areas, including the rule of law and the economy.

For the EU, Ukraine's accession is a critical test of the bloc's ability to accept new members and adapt its decision-making process. Debates are complicated by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and previous statements by several other countries, particularly in the Western Balkans.

Expanding the bloc of 27 members is happening at a critical juncture, as it's necessary for Eastern European countries to remain within its orbit rather than falling under the influence of Russia or China.

Croatia was the last country to join the bloc. Its accession process took 10 years before it was officially accepted.