President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola stated her unwavering support for Ukraine’s accession process to the European Union and emphasized that the European Parliament is a leader in this matter. In an interview she gave in Brussels during a special session marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Metsola stressed that EU enlargement is a mutually beneficial step for both current members and candidate countries.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“We were the first institution to declare this, after which the governments of member states agreed that it is a logical next step. EU enlargement has always been a mutually beneficial process – for both member countries and those seeking to join. Subsequent waves of enlargement have proven that this is the best geostrategic decision for the European Union,” said the President of the European Parliament.
Ukraine Insists on a Clear Date for EU Accession
During the special session in the European Parliament, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated the necessity of establishing a specific date for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. According to him, this would become part of a potential peace settlement, allowing Russia not to block Ukraine’s path to membership for decades. In response to a question about the possibility of determining such a date, Metsola replied that negotiations are ongoing, and the European Parliament fully supports Ukraine’s aspirations for EU membership.
The President of the European Parliament also emphasized her support for any negotiations that could lead to a fair and acceptable peace for Ukraine. She reminded that the process of EU enlargement is based on achievements, and the speed of integration depends on the fulfillment of necessary conditions by the candidate country.
Financial Aid and Resistance from Certain Countries
On February 24, Roberta Metsola signed a legislative act to provide Ukraine with a loan of 90 billion euros. At the same time, she expressed hope that all necessary steps to allocate these funds would be taken soon. As of today, the allocation of funding has been blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who links his decision to the issue of restoring the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, which was damaged at the end of January, according to the Ukrainian side, as a result of Russian shelling.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico have expressed doubts about the technical reasons for halting supplies and believe that the real motivation is political in nature. Orban also stated that he will not succumb to any pressure from Ukraine regarding the refusal of Russian energy, financial support, or Ukraine’s EU membership.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha reported that the Ukrainian side proposed several realistic options to resolve the pipeline issue, including a possible meeting between Zelensky and Orban, but all initiatives were rejected. Sybiha links the Hungarian Prime Minister’s tough stance to the upcoming elections in Hungary, which will take place in April.
President of the European Council António Costa, during his visit to Kyiv, emphasized that all parties must fulfill agreements, including those regarding the allocation of financial aid to Ukraine. At the same time, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi stated that the EU is preparing a new approach to enlargement that will allow not only Ukraine but also other candidate countries to integrate faster if they meet the necessary criteria.
The President of the European Parliament also called for increased sanctions and enhanced military, financial, and logistical support for Ukraine, emphasizing that Ukraine’s fight for freedom is also a fight for Europe’s security.
