Ukraine Might Join EU before Turkey

Despite its application to the EU many years after Turkey, Croatia was assigned a date by the EU within two years and March 2005 was designated as the starting date for membership negotiations. While Croatia’s acceptance as a member before 2010 has been discussed, it is now thought that Ukraine could follow the same process and will be able to join the Union before Turkey.

Many Europeans had expressed during discussions on Turkey before the December 17th EU summit that Ukraine is a part of European culture and therefore should be accepted to the Union.

The EP’s decision that paves the way for Ukraine’s membership is not binding. The EU leaders, that is to say the European Council, must take a decision regarding ascribing the status of a candidate to a country or a start of negotiations. Experts in Brussels think Ukraine could soon be a candidate but that any comparisons between Turkey and Ukraine would be wrong. The same experts also point out that Turkey will begin negotiations on October 3rd if they meet certain conditions.