The EU enlargement process should be in line with the current historical and geopolitical moment.

This was stated by Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, during the discussion panel “Adding Chairs to the Table: A Deeper, Wider, and More Capable EU?” at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, 18 February.

Also participating in the discussion were President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosław Sikorski and Diplomatic Advisor to the President of France Emmanuel Bonne.

“Ten years ago, on this very day, 18 February, the most difficult moment of the Revolution of Dignity began, when Ukrainians came out to fight for their future, wrapped in the European flag. That was the final choice of the Ukrainian people. Since then, our country has been on a path of reform and transformation that continues to this day. The war is forcing us to drive the reform agenda forward as if every day were our last. It is vital for us to do this without stopping. One of the main reasons for Ukraine’s application for EU membership was the desire to preserve and consolidate every transformation and reform that we have managed to implement since the Revolution of Dignity,” Olha Stefanishyna said.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, today Ukraine sees a window of opportunity for enlargement, both for Ukraine and for other candidate countries.

“My main message is that the procedures should follow political, historical and geopolitical guidance, and no other. At the moment, there are many technical obstacles in the accession negotiations, and every (even quite technical) step requires the approval of the European Council, i.e. the EU leaders. This overly politicises the process,” said Olha Stefanishyna.

The official stressed that “Ukraine has fully capable authorities, the parliament and the government, and we are ready to move dynamically towards the EU. This is the aspiration of the Ukrainian people, while enlargement is also a way to make Europe stronger and safer.”