On Nov. 4, the European Commission published its report on Ukraine’s accession progress alongside a political press release that set out desired, nonbinding timelines. The document projected that Montenegro could conclude membership negotiations in 2026, Albania in 2027, and Moldova and Ukraine in 2028.
“That really means a window of opportunity of two to two-and-a-half years to carry out all the required measures,” Mathernova said in a YouTube interview to Ukrainian think tank OPORA.
Countries that have already gone through the EU enlargement process view the mandatory reforms and regulations as beneficial to their citizenry, Mathernova added. She acknowledged that political challenges remain, noting that both the Ukrainian parliament and the presidency are in sixth year of their terms.
“Despite the difficulties, it’s very important for civil society to remain active and insist on reforms, and for the government to work on them,” she said. “I hope we can secure the passage of necessary laws in the Rada [Ukrainian parliament].”
The full interview will air Dec. 4 on OPORA’s YouTube channel. The material is part of a project on democratic integrity and
governance in Ukraine, ran by OPORA with support from the EU. Its content is
the sole responsibility of OPORA and does not necessarily reflect the European
Union’s views.