LUXEMBOURG (ANP) – Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp has made it clear that the Netherlands is not in favor of speeding up Ukraine’s EU accession process, a stance that sets it apart from other nations.
Veldkamp acknowledged Ukraine’s efforts to gain EU membership, stating, “They are making tremendous efforts, but the Netherlands maintains a strict and critical approach to EU enlargement.” He emphasized that the Netherlands is committed to helping Ukraine achieve the necessary criteria, particularly focusing on the rule of law and good governance.
During his visit to Lviv, Ukraine, Veldkamp highlighted the Netherlands’ intention to support Ukraine in its bid for EU membership. Experts from six Dutch ministries have been collaborating with Ukrainian officials to discuss how to implement essential reforms and meet the required admission criteria swiftly.
In contrast, representatives from Lithuania argue that negotiations between Ukraine and the EU should commence soon. “Ukraine has been a candidate for almost half a year now, but discussions on opening clusters have yet to begin,” stated Budrys. EU candidates are required to fulfill a variety of conditions categorized into six thematic ‘clusters,’ including rule of law and financial regulations. “With a deadline of January 1, 2030, we are working against a very tight timeline,” he noted.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also called for an acceleration of the accession process.
(April 14, 2025)
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