French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune (file photo)
RFE: France's European Minister: A Ukraine EU Bid Would Take At Least 15-20 Years
France’s European affairs minister said that any bid for Ukraine to join the European Union would take at least 15 to 20 years to complete, putting a damper on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hopes of gaining a quick entry into the bloc.
"We have to be honest. If you say Ukraine is going to join the EU in six months, or a year or two, you're lying," Clement Beaune told France’s Radio J on May 22.
"It's probably in 15 or 20 years -- it takes a long time." "I don't want to offer Ukrainians any illusions or lies," he added.
Read more ....
Update #1: France sees no EU entry for Ukraine before ’15 or 20 years’ (EurActiv/AFP)
Update #2: France warns Ukraine not to have 'illusions' about quick EU membership 'Have to be honest' (Express)
WNU Editor: This issue is splitting the EU .... Ukraine's EU Application Is Splitting Europe in Two (Newsweek).