Metsola expects talks on Ukraine's accession to EU will begin this year

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has said she hopes that negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union will begin this year.

She stated this during a short conversation with journalists in Lviv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to the European Parliament president, when people say that Ukraine is Europe, and Europe is Ukraine, it means that accession negotiations should start as soon as possible, which means this year.

She also noted that she is impressed by the progress achieved by Ukraine in implementing the European Commission’s recommendations. In her opinion, the EU should also match the speed of this progress.

As reported, on February 28, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed Ukraine's application for membership in the European Union.

On June 23, the heads of state and government of the European Union adopted a decision to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate country for EU membership.

On February 28, 2023, Zelensky said that this year is the time to decide on the start of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU.