European Commission points to Kiev's deficits as part of EU acceptance process

• 02.03.2023, 18:58
•  Europe,  World

Ukraine demonstrates a lack of preparedness for talks on joining the European Union, with the exception of a few areas, the European Commission said in a 66-page report published on Friday, TASS reports. 

According to the document, "Ukraine has a good level of preparation on external relations" as the country "demonstrates a good level of regulatory approximation with the EU acquis."

"Ukraine has a good level of preparation" in the field of foreign policy, the commission noted. "Ukraine has a good record of alignment with relevant High Representative Declarations and Council Decisions. Ukraine cooperates actively with the EU on tackling cyber threats and disinformation," the report added. However, "additional work is needed on preventing and combating illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives."

Kiev’s efforts to ensure the free movement of goods between the Ukrainian and European markets are "moderate." Progress towards rapprochement with the EU in the majority of other areas related to the country’s economic and political development was at an "early stage."

As usual, Ukraine was recommended to step up its fight against corruption and increase its level of financial control. As for human rights and freedom of the press, Ukraine is at an "early stage,’ but, according to the European Commission, Kiev is moving in the right direction.

The European Commission did not take a position on a timeframe for the possible launch of official talks on Ukraine’s accession to the EU, pointing out that the next evaluation of Ukraine’s level of preparedness would take place at the end of the year as part of an annual report on the preparedness of all candidate countries.