Eduardo González
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, yesterday reiterated Spain’s support for the European Commission’s opinion on Ukraine’s application for membership, an issue that, in his opinion, could be “on the table” during the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council, in the second half of 2023.
“I have reiterated Spain’s position, which I already expressed last Friday, that we consider the opinion issued by the European Commission as positive and balanced,” the minister told the press at the end of the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, held in Luxembourg. “It will be, obviously, the heads of state and government at the next Council who will have to address it,” he added, referring to the European Council of next June 23 and 24, whose agenda includes the issue of EU enlargement.
“Spain respects the opinion of all the EU partners”, but, in any case, the Spanish Government is going to be “constructive” and “will move along the line that the European Commission has put forward”, he continued. “We are already looking ahead to twelve months from now, when we will have the Presidency of the EU, and in which I am sure that the question of enlargement will be on the table”, he added.
Last Friday, the European Commission presented its opinions on the applications for EU membership submitted by Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. Regarding the first country, victim since last February 24 of the invasion launched by the Russian regime of Vladimir Putin, Brussels has concluded that, “in general, Ukraine is well advanced in achieving stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities”.
It also considers that the country “has maintained its strong macroeconomic track record, demonstrating remarkable resilience with macroeconomic and financial stability, although ambitious structural economic reforms need to be pursued, and has gradually moved towards substantial elements of the EU acquis in many areas”. For these reasons, the Commission recommends “that Ukraine be offered the prospect of membership of the European Union” and be granted “candidate status, on the understanding that it will need to take action in a number of areas”. This text will serve as a basis for discussion at the next European Council.
