The Austrian Chancellor reminded the Speaker of the Rada of the criteria for joining the European Union

The EU flag near the headquarters of the European Parliament in Brussels. Archival photoVIENNA, June 14Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, after meeting with Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk, recalled that certain criteria must be met in order to join the European Union. Stefanchuk on Tuesday addressed the National Council of Austria (lower house Parliament), after which he held a series of meetings with Austrian politicians, including the Chancellor. In his speech, Stefanchuk called for granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership. Austria is against accelerating this procedure, especially at the expense of the countries of the Western Balkans, whose possible EU membership Vienna actively supports. «Thank you, Stefanchuk, for an open conversation. We exchanged views on current events. I emphasized: Ukraine is part of Europe, — we and we will continue to help in any way we can! However, progress in the EU accession process requires the fulfillment of existing criteria,» Nehammer wrote on Twitter. On Friday, June 17, the European Commission must decide on its opinion on granting EU candidate status to Ukraine also Moldova and Georgia. The decision to grant or deny candidate status will be made by the heads of state and government of the EU at the summit in Brussels on June 23-24, taking into account the recommendation of the European Commission. Bloomberg revealed the terrible consequences of Ukraine's accession to the EU