Ukraine's EU membership process could be faster than for other countries, realistically by 2030, according to EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
"I think that a couple of years may be too little," she said.
According to her, she has seen great determination and persistence in Ukraine to move quickly.
"So I actually think that in the case of Ukraine, it can take less time than it took in the case of some other countries previously. I believe that 2030 is a very realistic date," Mathernová said.
The EU Ambassador reminded that, based on past experiences, there could be reasons for reversibility. "So if, let's say, a country turned into a dictatorship, then probably – nothing is irreversible in life in that sense, right? But if you are asking whether this is a firm commitment and whether we are on the road with Ukraine to the EU, then I would say a resounding 'yes'. And in fact, this could not have been said before the full-scale invasion," she added.
Ukraine's EU membership
On June 25, 2024, formal negotiations on Ukraine's EU membership began. According to current plans, a new major wave of EU enlargement is possible in 2030.
According to a survey by the Razumkov Center, at the beginning of 2024, about half of the respondents believed that Ukraine would become an EU member within five years. Additionally, 15% believed that Ukraine would join the EU in 5-10 years, and another 5% thought it would take 10-20 years.
Previously, Estonia's Ambassador to Ukraine Anneli Kolk said that her country's EU accession took ten years, but Ukraine could achieve this faster.