Austrian Minister Criticizes Ukraine's Fast-Track EU Bid

Austria opposes Ukraine's accelerated accession to the European Union. Claudia Bauer, Minister for European Affairs from the conservative ÖVP, stated that a fast-track accession upon request cannot apply to Kyiv and that all candidate countries must adhere to the same rules.

In an interview with Welt am Sonntag, she also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to her, in recent months he has given the impression that he wants to dictate the timeline for Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

Bauer pointed out that the EU must carefully consider its capacity to accept a new member. She argued that the accession of a country with approximately 39 million inhabitants and a different agricultural structure would significantly change the Union. At the same time, she warned against creating a two-speed system in which some candidates would enjoy more favorable conditions.

Accession negotiations between the EU and Ukraine began in June. However, Kyiv still needs to implement several reforms, particularly in the areas of anti-corruption and the judiciary.

Most European leaders do not consider Ukraine's membership before the mid-2030s to be realistic, especially while the war with Russia continues.

(zeit, est)