Kiev’s accession to the European Union will take a “very long” time, according to France’s Europe minister
No fast-track accession of Ukraine to the European Union is possible and the process will take a “very long” time, French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune said on Sunday.
“We have to be honest. If we say that Ukraine will join the EU in six months, one year or two years, we are lying. It’s not true. It’s probably 15 or 20 years. It takes a very long time,” Beaune told Paris-based Radio J.
“I don’t want to offer Ukrainians any illusions or lies,” he added.
Beaune, described by Politico as President Emmanual Macron’s “trusted protege” was named on Friday as minister of European affairs in the government led by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.
He suggested that Ukraine should become part of the EU’s political life, reiterating an idea of creating a membership substitute for the country, voiced by Macron.
“In the…
