Ukraine's entry into the EU will be more difficult than NATO
(Baonghean.vn) - Joining the European Union (EU) could be an even more difficult task for Ukraine than joining NATO, writes Financial Times journalist Tony Barber.
“EU membership may be even more difficult for Ukraine than NATO entry,” Barber notes in his article.
First of all, Ukraine will find it difficult to meet the formal requirements for EU membership, especially regarding the rule of law and a market economy, the Financial Times journalist said. In addition, there are at least nine other countries that want to join the EU, namely Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Türkiye.
Barber added that with the large number of countries that want to join, the regional organization will require extensive institutional and legal reforms, which the governments and voters of member states do not seem ready for. In particular, Ukraine, which is a major agricultural producer and one of the poorest countries in Europe, could receive a significant portion of the EU's subsidies (up to 65% of the EU budget) if it joins the EU, which is currently the amount that member states from Central and Eastern Europe receive. Barber pointed out that such a prospect is likely to cause opposition from political parties and voters in these countries. Therefore, the issue of Ukraine's European integration is the most difficult issue the bloc has faced in its entire 70-year history, Barber concluded./.
