EU membership by end of 2029. European Commissioner speaks about Ukraine's prospects

Ukraine can join the European Union in five years if it carries out reforms.

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi said this at a press conference in Brussels on the occasion of the presentation of a report on the progress of candidate countries for accession, DW reports.

According to him, additional instruments for accession have been created for Ukraine, Moldova and the countries of the Western Balkans.

"These instruments are called "Growth Plan" or "Ukraine Plan", depending on the country. And with the help of this plan, we made it possible for the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine to complete the reforms in order to prepare everything and become EU members by the end of the next mandate of the European Commission," said Olivér Várhelyi.

The EU says that Ukraine has begun to fight corruption more effectively, but "further efforts are needed" for fundamental reforms.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, the European Commission recommends that the Council of the European Union start accession negotiations with Ukraine.

In June, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, congratulated Ukraine and Moldova on the official start of negotiations on joining the European Union.