EU Ambassador: Commission's Report on Ukraine Will Recognise Cumulative Progress, No Reform Rollback
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová said the enlargement report will acknowledge Ukraine's overall achievements on the path to membership. She said no area shows backsliding, though progress varies.
The European Commission's enlargement report, due to be published on 4 November, will take into account Ukraine's cumulative progress in meeting EU membership criteria, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová said. She spoke to journalists in Kyiv, according to Evropeiska Pravda. The report matters because it assesses how far countries seeking to join the European Union have come in fulfilling accession requirements.
Two assessment levels
According to the ambassador, the report has two matrices. One covers progress since the previous report, meaning the past year. The other shows the level of readiness, that is, overall achievements in meeting the criteria. Mathernová said that in this context she would use the word "finally", as the steps taken overall are being recognised.
She did not disclose details of the report but said it would not speak of backsliding on reforms in various areas. In her words, progress varies: in some areas it is disappointing, in others good. Progress is limited, but there is no area where a retreat has been observed.
A whole-of-society effort
Mathernová stressed that enlargement is an effort of the whole society. The assessment covers not only the executive and legislative branches but also the work of independent bodies, the judiciary's achievements, the role of civil society and of a free press. She also said the report will show that Ukraine remains among the leaders of European integration.
Earlier steps
On 6 October, the European Commission's college approved a package of proposals for reviewing EU policies ahead of future enlargements, which would allow new members, including Ukraine, to be admitted. The EU is also drafting proposals under which four countries regarded as integration leaders — Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova and Albania — would receive roadmaps to membership.
