Polish President Andrzej Duda promised on Monday that Poland will make every effort during its presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2025 so that Ukraine and Moldova become members of the association.
As RMF FM reports, Duda said this at a joint event with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the country's accession to the EU.
As the Polish president emphasized, one of the main priorities during Poland's presidency of the Council of the European Union will be the membership of Ukraine, Moldova, and the countries of the Western Balkans in the EU.
"The Prime Minister (Mateush Morawiecki - ed.) and I know very well what it means to wait a long time, what it means to want to be a part of the free West, which we are a part of today in the political sense," Duda said.
"This has to be made up for, and that's why I think that no one else, except us - Poland - should say firmly and very decisively: we must finally accept them into the EU. The countries of the Western Balkans must be accepted. Today, the historical demand of the moment is to be accepted into the EU of Ukraine and Moldova," he emphasized.
The President of Poland recalled that in February 2022 he initiated the letter of the presidents on granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership as soon as possible, which was initially treated with skepticism.
"Today, Ukraine is a candidate. We will do everything to make Ukraine a part of the EU as soon as possible," said Duda.
Poland has been a member of the European Union since May 1, 2004. Together with it, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and the Czech Republic joined the European Union, which became the largest expansion in the history of the union.
As you know, the authorities of Ukraine aim to start negotiations on joining the European Union by the end of 2023, and after two years (that is, by 2025) to complete the fulfillment of EU conditions on their part.
