Latvia urges speedy negotiations on Ukraine’s EU accession
Edgars Rinkevics (Photo:REUTERS/Johanna Geron)
Now that Ukraine has been granted candidate status, the European Union should begin Ukrainian accession talks before the end of the year, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs said during a visit to Odesa on April 28.
Rinkēvičs held a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, where they discussed Ukraine's progress in integrating with the EU, the situation on the battlefield, and Russia's responsibility for its aggression against Ukraine, according to Baltic news outlet Delfi.
The minister stressed that the EU should be ready to start negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU in 2023. He believes this is important both for Ukrainian wartime morale and for spurring further reforms in the country.
Rinkēvičs added that Ukraine is conducting reforms while fighting a war, noting that Kyiv’s efforts to combat corruption and strengthen the judicial system are especially noteworthy.
"Integration into the EU will require significant and diligent work, a very important part of which will be the implementation of serious and effective reforms," he said.
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