EU must change accession system to cater for Ukraine, enlargement chief says

{"text":[[{"start":10.25,"text":"The EU’s enlargement chief Marta Kos has demanded national capitals agree quickly on a “different” system for adding new members, as Brussels fears Ukraine’s bid to join the bloc will overwhelm its outdated accession model."}],[{"start":24.3,"text":"Brussels’ rigid, decades-old approach to enlargement, which last admitted a new member in 2013, is clashing with a belief that adding new members is a geopolitical necessity, most pertinently in the case of Kyiv as it battles Russia’s more than four-year-long invasion."}],[{"start":41.25,"text":"“If there is a right time to accelerate enlargement, the time is right now,” Kos told the FT, adding it was time for EU capitals “to come from words to actions”. She said: “I’m not here in this place to manage the status quo.” "}],[{"start":56,"text":"Kos’s intervention follows a proposal from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to create “associate member” status for Ukraine, with benefits and integration short of full membership, while Kyiv works through the legal reforms necessary to formally become part of the EU. "}],[{"start":70.35,"text":"The ideas have met with mixed responses from other EU member states and Ukraine itself. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Merz’s proposal was “unfair” as it would give his country the right to participate in EU meetings without a vote."}],[{"start":84.75,"text":"“It is helpful because we need a serious debate,” Kos said when asked if the European Commission endorsed Merz’s proposal. “I’m endorsing a debate. This is one of the ideas, and it is a good start to discuss . . . Bringing enlargement over the finish line is chefsache,” she said, using the German word for issues to be handled by leaders. "}],[{"start":105,"text":"“I don’t know in which direction this will go, but I agree that we have to find the solution, something different than we are using today,” Kos said, adding that EU leaders she had spoken with privately said they wanted “a combination of merit-based principle . . . [and] more possibilities of the gradual integration”."}],[{"start":122.4,"text":"“If we get it right, we could build a strong continent which is able to fight the adversaries who would like to see us fail. But if we don’t get it right, others will step in and will not hesitate to use all the powers against us,” she added."}],[{"start":134.55,"text":"“This is really much more than just enlargement. It is about our future. And that’s why I hope that the leaders will recognise this and show us their decisiveness and unity in taking care of the future of our European Union.”"}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":148.10000000000002,"text":"Kos spoke ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus set to be dominated by the EU’s stance towards Ukraine, Russia and the conflict. That will shape preparations for a summit of EU leaders in June."}],[{"start":162.10000000000002,"text":"Kos said that regardless of any reform of the enlargement process “there is no mercy on fundamentals” — a reference to core EU standards on issues such as the rule of law, judicial independence and corruption. But she added that Brussels needed to be “innovative”."}],[{"start":178.90000000000003,"text":"Kos said that Zelenskyy’s demand for EU accession next year was impossible but had the positive effect of bringing urgency to the debate, and she defended the idea of reworking the accession process to fit Kyiv’s situation. "}],[{"start":193.30000000000004,"text":"The Slovenian commissioner also suggested the “artificial” binding together of Ukraine and Moldova’s accession processes could end this summer with the opening of formal negotiations for both countries. “We will see who will deliver, who will be able to deliver more,” she said."}],[{"start":209.80000000000004,"text":"“Ukraine is simply too big to fail. That’s why it deserves special care,” Kos said. “We will have peace at some point. You know, I’m more afraid for this day to come [before we are ready]. Because then it will be, ‘Are we able to deliver?’"}],[{"start":223.95000000000005,"text":"“The sooner we will get the direction [from leaders], the easier it will be for us to prepare,” she added. “What we need now is, if I speak in the romantic language, we have to give hope [to Ukraine].”"}],[{"start":244.65000000000006,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1779952908_9871.mp3"}