Von der Leyen needs to open speedy accession negotiations with Ukraine | EUROtoday

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, needs to begin on the finish of the month las accession negotiations to the European Union with Ukraine from the conviction that it has complied with all of the steps that had been requested of it.

“Ukraine has made the reforms in justice and against corruption that were requested of it even while at war. For this reason we believe that the EU should begin now accession negotiations with Ukraine at the end of this month“Von der Leyen said on the convention for the reconstruction of Ukraine organized by the German Government in Berlin and attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Von der Leyen recalled that that is the primary convention for the reconstruction of Ukraine to be held in an EU member nation after the earlier two had been held in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Addressing Zelensky he said: that is the place your nation belongs. Jrkiv is Europe. Ukraine is Europe. And our Union is your property“.

The president of the Commission spoke about Ukraine as if it were already part of the Twenty-Seven club and so did Chancellor Olaf Scholz in his call to the private sector to invest in Ukraine. “Think that you’re investing in a future neighborhood nation“said Scholz, who pledged to “accompany Ukraine on the trail to the EU” and to support the country as long as necessary, “till Russia withdraws from occupied territory“.

Scholz sees great economic potential in Ukraine in renewable energy and hydrogen, but also in sectors such as digitalization and telecommunications, weapons, health technology and pharmaceutical products. Despite the war, “there was no outflow of German investments. Our commerce quantity has elevated considerably in comparison with the pre-war interval. All this exhibits me that the economic system understands the potential that Ukraine has, Scholz confused. to encourage bidding amongst convention individualssome 2,000 delegates from 60 nations and amongst them the British Foreign Minister, David Cameron, and the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte.

“Russia capitulates”

Von der Leyen and Chancellor Scholz assume that Russia will capitulate regardless that its navy and troop benefit is superior to the Ukrainian one and that it’ll additionally accomplish that in alternate for nothing, with no negotiation or a barter just like the one that when hovered over the pinnacle of the United States and from some EU leaders: entry into the EU in alternate for renouncing NATO. For observers, his statements are a siren music. The European Union is a home of playing cards after the elections to the European Parliament on Sunday, however each Scholz, who has emerged very weakened, and Von der Leyen, whose second time period remains to be up within the air, have made an effort to make it clear that progress of skeptical forces with the assistance and integration of Ukraine into the EU is not going to impose a change after all.

“Putin must fail. Ukraine must prevail and we will help it rise from the ashes and be the master of its own future“, is Von der Leyen's mantra, earlier than itemizing the fabric and monetary assist mechanisms put in place by the Commission to confront the continued Russian assaults. He talked about amongst them the five hundred million euros raised for pressing community repairs. power, in addition to a bundle of 1,000 electrical turbines and nearly 8,000 photo voltaic panels to stabilize the state of affairs and diversify power sources,

In addition, he introduced that earlier than the tip of the month kyiv will obtain 1.9 billion euros from the 50 billion Ukraine Fund – of which 6,000 have already been delivered -, due to the reforms and funding methods lately accepted within the nation. Within the framework of the convention in Berlin, Von der Leyen can even signal agreements price 1.4 billion euros with European banks to draw non-public sector investments to Ukraine.

Banks can even be capable to request, by way of a pilot venture, European monetary help to put money into lively fairness funds in Ukraine, in order that they’re insured in opposition to some dangers. “Our goal is to improve access to financing for Ukrainian companies. In particular for small and medium-sized startups that can help modernize the Ukrainian economy,” stated Von der Leyen, citing areas equivalent to digitalization, renewable power and important uncooked supplies.

“Later this week, at the G7 summit, we will continue to discuss how Ukraine can benefit more quickly from the proceeds of frozen Russian funds“, he highlighted. The concept is to entry some 1.5 billion euros from the advantages produced by Russian funds frozen within the EU, of which 90% will go to the protection of Ukraine and 10% to reconstruction.

Business alternative

Mr. Zelensky Ukraine is an effective enterprise alternative. Half of {the electrical} grid has been destroyed by Russian forces, there are practically 200,000 buildings destroyed and the civil infrastructure as a complete presents severe harm. The World Bank estimates that Ukraine would require an funding of $500 billion within the coming years.

But all that glitters just isn’t gold, says Professor Klemens Fischer, an skilled in Security and Foreign Policy on the University of Cologne. Reconstruction can not start with out minimal safety ensures and above all, it can’t be carried out with out labor. “In addition to the dead and wounded on the battlefield, about 10 million Ukrainians have left the country. Of those who remain and are not forced to fight, 30% are retirees,” he notes.

In a quick look earlier than the press, Zelensky acknowledged that this lack of manpower, for reconstruction and fight, however expressed hope that Ukrainians overseas will return to the nation. He didn’t reply the query about the best way to encourage or power 200,000 Ukrainians of navy age who’re refugees in Germany. Scholz neither.