RT.com
04 Feb 2023, 08:13 GMT+10
Ukraine is only at an ?early stage of preparation? for implementing EU policies in many key areas, an EU Commission report says
Kiev still has a lot to do if it wants to join the EU, an extensive European Commission report published on Thursday has determined. Ukraine is only at the "early stage" of readiness to follow EU standards and policies in a number of key fields, including financial control and the free movement of workers and intellectual property law, the 67-page-long document said.
The report noted that internal audit standards were "not yet well established" in Ukraine and this "undermines the accountability of the use of public funds."
The document was also critical of Ukraine's national legislation in the field of free movement of workers and intellectual property rights, adding that it still needs to be aligned "in a comprehensive way" with the relevant EU standards.
The EU Commission called on the Ukrainian government to "address significant shortcomings in its labor legislation," including those related to "health and safety at work." Ukraine's laws are also "not aligned with EU gender equality legislation" and need further alignment with Brussels on "non-discrimination in employment."
Ukraine is also at the "early stage" of preparation when it comes to agriculture, fisheries, rural development, as well as environmental protection and climate change, the report said.
Kiev has so far failed to reach the highest "well advanced" level of preparedness in any of the fields mentioned in the report.
Ukraine has a "good level" of readiness to meet the EU standards in four policy areas: foreign, defense and energy policies, as well as energy and the potential to join the EU customs union. Yet, even here, Kiev still has work to do, the report said.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal said that Kiev could be part of the bloc within two years. Ukraine applied for EU candidate status last February, after Russia launched its military operation. Brussels granted Kiev that status in June.
Kiev and some of its most ardent supporters among EU members, including Poland, have since argued that Ukraine deserves a fast-track path to full membership. Other EU nations, like France, have argued this process could take much longer.
Last May, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the accession process "would probably take several decades." European Council President Charles Michel also said last month that the bloc had no intention of changing its rules.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of London Mercury news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to London Mercury.
More InformationEight to 17-year-olds now make up the single largest group for self-harm hospital admissions. ...
The former prime minster is pressed about Downing Street photos showing a lack of social distancing. ...
The two new areas will have tax and duty relief and simplified customs, with hopes for 20,000 jobs. ...
Chair of the Royal College of GPs says some patients are getting into debt by paying for procedures. ...
Jason Thomas, 50, from Wales was reported missing from the Valaris 121 in the North Sea. ...
SNP MP Allan Dorans presses Boris Johnson about a photo appearing to show multiple bottles of alcohol. ...
MANILA, Philippines: An underwater robot from Japan has located a leaking fuel tanker, MT Princess Empress, which sank off the ...
NEW YORK, New York - A hike in official U.S. interest rates of 0.25 percent, and a jump in inflation ...
SEATTLE, Washington: In a memo to staff sent this week, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said the company plans to cut ...
DETROIT, Michigan: Due to leaking brake hoses and windshield wiper arms that can break off, Ford is recalling more than ...
NEW YORK, New York - Wall Street continued its advance on Tuesday as investors continued to weigh up the health ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The US State Department has issued a travel warning regarding dangerous fake pills sold at pharmacies in Mexico, ...