de flag go to the original language article
This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by dpa.

German European Affairs Minister: EU should be ready for enlargement by 2027

by AI | 26.Jun 2024 | Europe in brief AI

With the start of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, the question arises once again of when the EU will see an increase.

Anna Lührmann (Alliance 90/The Greens) is the German Minister of State for Europe. Photo: Urs Flueeler/KEYSTONE/EDA/POOL/dpa

Luxembourg – The EU must be ready to accept new members in five years, according to Germany’s Minister of State for Europe Anna Lührmann. Whether the candidate countries would meet the conditions then depends on their pace of reform, said the Green politician on Tuesday shortly before the start of the EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova in Luxembourg. But the EU must be ready for accessions by 2027.

Lührmann cited agricultural policy and decision-making processes in the EU as major areas in need of reform within the EU. In addition, the EU budget must be prepared for a possible expansion, and the instruments for protecting the rule of law must be improved.

Lührmann: Start of accession negotiations honors enormous reform efforts

At the start of the accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, Lührmann said that the step acknowledges that the two countries have undertaken enormous reform efforts under very difficult circumstances in recent years and have made significant progress, particularly in the areas of rule of law, anti-corruption, and press freedom. 

For the opening of the accession negotiations, representatives of the EU and the governments of Ukraine and Moldova will meet this Tuesday on the sidelines of an EU ministerial meeting in Luxembourg. How long the accession negotiations will last and whether they can be successfully completed at all is still open. (June 25)