Ukraine presents key document to become a member of the European Union

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered on Monday (18) a document with Ukraine’s responses to a European Union questionnaire, marking another step on Kiev’s path to joining the bloc.

The European Union’s ambassador to Ukraine, Matti Maasikas, posted on social media that he was “honored to receive from President Zelensky the answers to the European Commission’s questionnaire”.

In the publication, Maasikas noted that the document was “delivered by President von der Leyen just 10 days ago” and that “extraordinary times take extraordinary measures and extraordinary speed”.

The ambassador also posted pictures of him receiving the document alongside Zelensky and other senior Ukrainian officials, including Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Another step on Ukraine’s EU path. Honored to receive from @ZelenskyyUa the answers to @EU_Commission questionnaire, handed over by @vonderleyen only 10 days ago. Extraordinary times take extraordinary steps and extraordinary speed. @Denys_Shmyhal @StefanishynaO @AndriyYermak pic.twitter.com/UaNPOrhPST

— Matti Maasikas (@MattiMaasikas) April 18, 2022

Entry into the European Union

Submitting the questionnaire marks another step in the long process of becoming a full EU member country, a process that normally takes years to complete.

The European Commission will now consider the answers provided by Ukraine in the questionnaire and issue an opinion on whether Ukraine should be granted “candidate status”.

It will then be up to the leaders of the 27 existing member states to approve Ukraine’s status as a candidate country before moving on to the next phase, in which Kiev would need to align its social, legal, administrative and financial processes with those of the EU.

In March, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on European Union institutions to “work to grant” Ukraine the status of candidate country to the bloc.