We'll be with you on 'long road' to membership, EU tells Ukraine
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[July 01, 2022]
BRUSSELS/KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine now has a
"very clear European perspective" but the road to EU membership will
take time and require hard work, the president of the EU executive told
the country's parliament on Friday.
EU leaders last week granted Ukraine candidate status to join the bloc,
formally opening a process that is expected to take years before it
becomes a member of the union that now comprises 27 countries.
In a speech by video-link to the Ukrainian assembly, Ursula von der
Leyen underlined the progress made by the country in its path towards EU
membership while it defends itself against Russia's Feb. 24 invasion.
"Ukraine now has a very clear European perspective. And Ukraine is a
candidate country to join the European Union, something that seemed
almost unimaginable just five months ago," she told lawmakers and
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
"There is a long road ahead but Europe will be at your side every step
of the way, for as long as it takes, from these dark days of war until
the moment you cross the door that leads into our European Union," she
said, noting that many crucial reforms were needed as soon as possible.
"The next steps are within your reach. But they will require hard work,"
she added.
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![](../images/070122PIX/news_m27.jpg)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives for the
European Union leaders summit, as EU's leaders attempt to agree on
Russian oil sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine,
in Brussels, Belgium May 30, 2022. REUTERS/Johanna Geron//File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jul/01/images/ads/current/debbiesfloral_lda_052922.png)
Zelenskiy said Ukraine must become an EU member state
quickly.
"Our path to membership must not take decades," he said. "We must
traverse this path as quickly as possible. This depends on us."
Ukrainian lawmakers clapped in unison as a huge EU flag was brought
into the assembly hall by three servicemen from the National Guard
dressed in ceremonial uniforms.
Von der Leyen listed among urgent measures Ukraine needed to take:
the adoption of a media law, the implementation of new rules that
reduce oligarchs' excessive clout and the appointment of top
anti-corruption officials. Zelenskiy urged lawmakers to pass all
those measures.
(Reporting by Charlotte van Campenhout, John Chalmers and Francesco
Guarascio in Brussels and Max Hunder in Kyiv; Editing by Nick
Macfie)
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