European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Charles Michel met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi in Kyiv on Friday, February 3 for a historic EU-Ukraine summit. The leaders issued a joint statement reflecting Ukraine\u2019s and the EU\u2019s views and expectations of the country\u2019s EU accession path. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Kyiv, European leaders sent a signal that Ukraine will become an EU member state. \u201cEurope is with you for as long as it takes \u2013 until the day when the Ukrainian flag will be raised where it belongs: in Brussels at the heart of the European Union,\u201d Ursula von der Leyen said as the EU College of Commissioners met with the Ukrainian government in Kyiv. The summit decision that was agreed by all member states is clearly phrased. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe EU reiterated its commitment to support Ukraine\u2019s further European integration. The EU will decide on further steps once all conditions specified in the Commission’s opinion are fully met. Ukraine underlined its determination to meet the necessary requirements in order to start accession negotiations as soon as possible,\u201d the joint statement that followed the summit reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brussels reaffirms the need for Ukraine to implement all seven steps of the European Commission\u2019s recommendations in order to convince the skeptics in the EU and begin accession talks. Ukraine has to complete them before the talks open, the EU leaders emphasized at the summit. Kyiv said it understands that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe EU acknowledged the considerable efforts that Ukraine demonstrated in the recent months towards meeting the objectives underpinning its candidate status for EU membership, welcomed Ukraine\u2019s reform efforts in such difficult times, and encouraged the country to continue on this path and to fulfil the conditions specified in the Commission\u2019s opinion on its membership application in order to advance towards future EU membership,\u201d the joint statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU is satisfied with Ukraine\u2019s reform pace amid the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe reaffirmed that comprehensive and consistent implementation of judicial reforms, in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission, including the reform of the Constitutional Court and the selection procedure of politically independent and qualified constitutional judges, remains vital for strengthening Ukraine\u2019s resilience and for progress on the enlargement process,\u201d the joint statement that follows the summit reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU insisted on including the paragraph to emphasize that Ukraine\u2019s possible attempts to side-step the requirements to reform the Constitution Court will not work. The reforms of judiciary and the Constitution Court are a priority to assess the overall progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe EU reiterated that the Commission has been invited to report on the fulfilment of the conditions specified in the Commission\u2019s opinion on Ukraine\u2019s membership application as part of its regular enlargement package in 2023. Without prejudice to this comprehensive regular reporting, we take note of the Commission\u2019s intention to provide an update in spring 2023 which will also be conveyed to Ukraine through the appropriate channels,\u201d the joint statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accession negotiations could begin already in 2023 if there is reform progress \u2014 that is what\u2019s enveloped in the bureaucratic phrasing. That is Ukraine\u2019s biggest win on the path toward accession. The EU will provide a written assessment of Ukraine\u2019s progress in spring 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukraine will have time to complete its \u201chomework\u201d by autumn. It is then that the EU could make a decision to begin the accession talks. Ukraine\u2019s reform progress is key. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe firmly reject and unequivocally condemn the attempted illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. As in the case of Crimea and Sevastopol, the European Union will never recognise as lawful any attempted illegal annexations of any parts of Ukrainian territory. We demand that Russia immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe demand that Russia immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. (\u2026) Ukraine is exercising its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression. It has the right to liberate and regain full control of all occupied territories within its internationally recognised borders,\u201d the joint statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is probably the key \u201cmilitary\u201d part of the decision. Ukraine\u2019s right to retake Crimea through a military operation is asserted in an international document for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe support the idea of a Peace Formula Summit aiming at launching its implementation,\u201d the joint statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi first presented a 10-point peace plan to end Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine at the G20 meeting in November. The steps include a path to Russia\u2019s capitulation, liberation of all of Ukraine, Russia\u2019s reparations to rebuild the country etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In February 2022, the Ukrainian book market faced unprecedented challenges. Kharkiv, the book printing capital of Ukraine, found itself on the front line. This was felt by all publishers, regardless of the region in which their main office was located. At the same time, the demand for Ukrainian books abroad has increased, as well as the demand for the purchase of licenses for the publication of Ukrainian authors. Watch Ukraine in flames #330 to find out how the Ukrainian book market not only continued to exist, but also found strength and opportunities to develop and expand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guests:<\/p>\n\n\n\n