site.btaBulgarian President: Ukraine's EU Perspective Is Clear but Path to Membership Should Pass Through Objective Criteria for Deep Reforms

Ukraine's EU prospect is clear, but the path to full membership must pass through objective criteria for deep reforms, on a par with other candidate countries, and with a very well thought-out and balanced process, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev told journalists after a meeting with his Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanovic in Zagreb on Monday. "Bulgaria supports Ukraine's determination and efforts to take the path of European integration. However, we all understand that this will be a long process, which needs to be considered very carefully. We have to be very objective," the Bulgarian head of State said. 

According to him, it would in no way be a good signal for the countries of the Western Balkans if Ukraine were given a preference just because of the geopolitical situation to be a member of the EU, without having implemented the same deep reforms that the Western Balkan countries are currently implementing: rule of law, counter-corruption, free elections, freedom of speech.

"The most important thing at the moment is to achieve a sustainable and lasting peace in Ukraine so that we can deploy the most important foundation of democracy - elections. Currently, free elections cannot be held there because Ukraine is in a state of war," Radev added.

In his words, the big challenge facing Europe is food security and the ability of each country to produce a solid part of its own agricultural produce. Only a year ago, European farmers were protesting because of imports from Ukraine, and under standards that are much lower than those for European farmers, Radev recalled. "We should also carefully assess the agricultural policy towards Ukraine because it is a huge producer," he added.