Hryhoriy Mesezhnikov: The next EU summit will most likely become historic
21.11.2023
Hryhoriy Mesezhnikov
It is likely that the EU will start negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on joining the Union in December. How, in his opinion, this process will taking place, the Newssky correspondent has asked Hryhori Mesezhnikov, the president of the Institute of Public Affairs in Slovakia, to comment.
Foremost, everything that has been declared for the preparation and accession to the European Union of the former Soviet republics is important. But now independent states, which have determined their orientation towards the West, and are already harmonizing the internal structure with the norms and rules necessary for the acquisition of EU membership, are in the focus. The December summit will probably have historical significance.
Ukraine is currently under strong pressure from the Russian Federation, Ukraine is a victim of Kremlin aggression. Despite this, Ukraine continues to function as a democracy, which was not done by any country that continued to join the European integration process through reforms during the war. At the recent meeting of the European Council, these reforms were approved, and the participants of the meeting noted that Ukraine is not lagging on its way. It is certain that the report on the advancement of Ukraine on the path to European integration contained remarks and highlighted errors. Instead, the main direction was evaluated positively. This show of the solid support of the EU members is key because there are certain countries that are looking everywhere for arguments, particularly Hungary, to block this process, and Slovakia could happen to become such a country soon.
Regarding Moldova, currently, Moldova is also in the process of becoming a member of the European Union. These two candidate countries, together with the Balkan states, are a symbol of the fact that the EU is pursuing an open-door policy, which is not an ordinary thing because the European Union has its own internal problems, which have intensified due to Ukraine’s war against the Russian Federation. There is also an understanding that without the participation of Ukraine, the process of European integration is incomplete.
So, most likely, the summit will become historical. Time will tell how individual states will act. Instead, the mainstream — those states that created the EU, that have been members of the EU for a long time, and that take an active European part in the process of European integration — will undoubtedly choose a position of support for Ukraine. I hope that both Hungary and Slovakia will also support (despite its change of government). Robert Fico has repeatedly expressed unfair skepticism about Ukraine, his policy is anti-Ukrainian, but it will not be easy for him to juxtapose himself to the entire European Union. After all, if he tries to block Ukrainian progress, the consequences will be difficult, first, for Slovakia itself.
Maryna Kovalchuk, Newssky’s own correspondent (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland), head of the V5 Media project, and deputy editor-in-chief, contributed.
