Flags of Ukraine and the European Union. Archive photoMOSCOW, 11 Jun. «Pervasive» corruption, poverty, problems with the rule of law and democracy hinder Ukraine's accession to the European Union, experts expressed this opinion in an interview with the Norwegian television channel NRK. At the beginning of April, at the EU summit, the tone on this issue was «very optimistic», but since then it has become clear that some countries do not intend to give Ukraine a «green light». .jpg» />Media: The Netherlands and Denmark oppose EU candidate status for Ukraine As political science professor at the universities of Oslo and Agder Jarle Trundal and researcher Jorn Holm-Hansen from the University of Greater Oslo said in an interview with NRK, it will be «a lot of time» before Ukraine is ready. at the same time, its position even before the current crisis was «very precarious.» According to them, there are five reasons why Ukraine is unlikely to be allowed «immediately» into the European Union. First, it is «ubiquitous» corruption. In this regard, Ukraine is faring even worse than in the most corrupt EU countries, although Zelensky promised in his election campaign to fight it. Secondly, Ukraine has problems with the rule of law, governance and democracy. Thus, in The Economist magazine's democracy rating, Ukraine received low scores, the situation with freedom of the press there also «leaves much to be desired.» The third obstacle is control over the economy by the «rich.» According to experts, the country does not have a well-functioning market economy, as required by the EU. «Oligarchs and big business control the country's economy and politics,» says Holm-Hansen, noting that Ukraine «does not and cannot have fair competition.» The fourth obstacle is poverty, nationalism, and the ongoing military crisis. According to Holm-Hansen and Trundal, Ukraine is a poor country with low wages and low living standards. In addition, they are «not sure» that Kyiv fully shares such EU values as «diversity, tolerance and community of various ethnic groups.» experts point out. So, the same Germany believes that the admission of Kyiv without a queue will be injustice in relation to the countries of the Western Balkans. «Finally, the new member must be approved by the rest of the EU countries, whether under the accelerated program or not,» they summarize. On February 28, Zelensky signed an application for Ukraine's accession to the European Union. Von der Leyen, while visiting Kyiv in April, gave Zelensky a questionnaire to start negotiations on joining the European Union. The EC is currently evaluating Ukraine's responses and, as previously reported, it is expected to present its recommendations on the possibility of granting Ukraine candidate status to EU leaders during the June 23-24 summit. /strong>
One step forward, two steps back: Europe is moving away from Ukraine
