Macron says Ukraine joining EU 'far off'
2 Min Read
In response to a question regarding the impact of welcoming Ukraine's big agricultural industry into the EU on French farmers, Macron said there was still time to prepare.
-
France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference at the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai on December 2, 2023. (AFP)
Despite a breakthrough at the EU summit in Brussels, French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Friday that Ukraine's ultimate membership in the European Union was still a "long way off."
European Union leaders, during a summit in Brussels, Belgium, approved the initiation of formal membership negotiations with Ukraine.
In response to a question regarding the impact of welcoming Ukraine's big agricultural industry into the EU on French farmers, Macron said there was still time to prepare.
Macron explained, "We are very far from effective enlargement to Ukraine and, in any case, enlargement, whatever it may be, will require an in-depth reform of our rules and therefore this will only be possible with a massive funding increase."
Additionally, Moldova is also under consideration for beginning accession talks aimed at securing EU membership. The decision, made on Thursday and attended by leaders from all 27 EU countries, was reached after the departure of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban from the room, ensuring a unanimous agreement to commence accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.
Previously, Hungary had issued a veto threat against Ukraine's EU accession.
“Hungary does not want to be part of this bad decision!” Orban said in a post on Facebook.
European Council President Charles Michel labeled the decision “a clear signal of hope for their people and our continent.”
Orban stood alone as the sole dissenting voice during the summit, which occurred at a crucial juncture for Ukraine.
The move comes at a crucial time for Kiev, which is facing uncertainty regarding future financial assistance from the United States and Europe.
US President Joe Biden has pledged to send an additional $200 million in aid to Ukraine, as discussed in a meeting with Zelensky on Tuesday after Congress Republicans blocked a bill to send military aid worth almost $60 billion to Kiev.
Republicans are more openly rejecting the need to fund Ukraine, saying that Biden needs to devote more attention to domestic security, particularly to stopping illegal migration over the US-Mexican border.
