Even despite the boundless courage and heroism of the Ukrainian people, who protect not only Ukraine, but also Europe from rashism, some in this very Europe do not dare to recognize the European perspective of our country and agree to grant it the status of an EU candidate. Moreover, he comes up with some strange arguments to explain why the EU will not be able to do this, at least at the June summit.. In particular, from Berlin, Vienna, Paris, The Hague, we are told about the " Say, the countries of the Western Balkans - ZB-6 (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro) have been waiting for a long time, and it will be " French Secretary of State for European Affairs Clement Bon went the furthest, who believes that Ukraine needs 10-15 years to achieve membership, and therefore it is inappropriate to consider the “Ukrainian issue” at the June EU summit.

Why are individual EU members trying to slow down this issue and oppose Ukraine to the entire region? Perhaps one of the heads of the EU member states is fulfilling the “order” of the Russian leader. Someone probably sees a danger in the expansion of the EU by another 40 million people and more than 600 thousand. sq.. km. But the EU did not see the danger when, during the " So is it possible that only 40 million Ukrainians scare someone Ukrainians focused on creating a better life with their own hands, with a good education and the ability to work, can become another, new " Not a threat. And certainly not the reason for not receiving the status of a candidate country in June.

Running in place.

Is it really unfair for the countries of ST-6 to give Kyiv the status of a Candidate Country Let's look at the current successes of the states of this region in European integration. At the same time, we recall that the EU confirmed the European perspective of ST-6 at least three times and never promised it to Ukraine. Agree, it's definitely not fair..

In February 2018, the EU approved the Enlargement Strategy and divided six countries into three groups, depending on the degree of homework in the context of European integration and success in fulfilling the acquis communautaire, that is, adapting domestic legislation to EU law in 35 chapters.

According to EC strategists, the pairs look like this: Albania and North Macedonia (C. Macedonia); Serbia and Montenegro; Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Kosovo.

Albania and North Macedonia. The first of them received the status of a candidate country in 2014 and completed all the preparatory conditions in six years. In March 2020, the European Commission recommended the start of accession negotiations, which have already been repeatedly postponed.. On May 21, the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, reaffirmed Albania's readiness to start accession negotiations with the EU.. But when they start, no one can say yet..

North Macedonia became a candidate in 2005 and after 15 years the EC decided that it too was ready to enter into accession negotiations with Albania. But then Bulgaria woke up, which blocked the start of negotiations, putting forward a number of historical and linguistic requirements for Skopje. For the second year now, the two neighboring countries have been trying to reach a compromise, but things are still there.

Thus, Bulgaria blocked the start of negotiations for two countries at once - Albania and C. Macedonia, and consequently, teaching them membership. In Brussels, they shrug their hands: we can’t do anything, the countries must agree. As a result, increased Euroskepticism in ST6 countries, bordering on disappointment.

Serbia and Montenegro; Back in 2018, they were predicted that in 2025 they would become members of the EU.

Serbia has the status of a candidate country since 2012, negotiations are underway on 18 chapters of the aquis communautaire, and only two chapters have been completed. So-so result, not very optimistic. This was confirmed by the critical report of the European Commission for 2021 on Serbia's fulfillment of its tasks.. It noted a rollback on the rule of law and human rights, freedom of the media and other.

But most of all, Brussels is irritated by the attempt of President Aleksandar Vucic to sit on two chairs - both to receive money from EU funds and to make friends with Putin. That is why a number of MEPs in March of this year proposed to freeze negotiations with Serbia if it does not change its pro-Russian position and does not support EU sanctions against Russia. EC leaders have repeatedly noted that Vucic can continue to implement the Putin model, but must decide on the direction of the country's development and stop pretending that he is moving towards EU membership..

The problem with the recognition of Kosovo's independence remains, without which it is difficult to imagine Belgrade's approach to the European Union. That is, it is still problematic for Serbia to become a member of the EU in 2025.

Montenegro has had candidate status since 2010 and opened negotiations on all 33 chapters (they were not needed for two chapters). But the efficiency, like that of Serbia, is not very high - only two chapters are closed.

The EC 2021 report notes that after a dynamic move in previous years, the country has been stagnant. Again, the lack of results in the fight against corruption, organized crime, money laundering, the lack of cooperation between state institutions and the civil sector, etc..

The Krivokapich government practically stopped the European integration of the country and left a lot of problems for its successors, which was welcomed in Russia. The new government, elected in April, has received problems that cast doubt on gaining EU membership in 2025.

BiH and Kosovo. It will not be a big mistake to evaluate them as outsiders in the European integration run.

BiH applied for EU membership in 2016 and immediately received a questionnaire, the answers to which were prepared in 2018, but they did not satisfy the EC, and so far none of the chapters of the aquis communautaire has been closed. The annual conclusions of the EC leave no doubt - the country is not ready either for the status of a candidate country or for introductory negotiations. What kind of European integration of BiH can we talk about if after the last elections the government practically does not work, and the country is on the verge of a split?

With Kosovo, everything is also simple: despite the Stabilization and Normalization Agreement between the EU and Kosovo signed in October 2015, Pristina has not taken real steps along this path. There are many, but fundamentally important reasons blocking the country's European integration, two are the non-recognition of Kosovo's independence by five EU countries and the unsettled relations with Serbia.

At the same time, it is in Kosovo that the highest support for the course towards integration into the European Union and NATO remains.. Pristina joins almost all anti-Russian sanctions. And it provides considerable assistance to Ukraine in defense against Russian aggression, for example, in the training of demining specialists, transfers humanitarian supplies and accepts refugees from Ukraine.

As you can see, the European integration of ZB-6 is not very dynamic and resembles running in place waiting for these countries to be called to the EU. So why is it unfair to give Ukraine the status of an EU candidate country (which four countries of SG-6 already have) in June and start accession negotiations? And how are the ST-6 countries involved in Ukrainian European integration in general Such binding of Ukraine to ZB-6 is incorrect and dangerous. This can sow distrust between countries (to the delight of the Kremlin dictator) and stop the process of European integration for everyone. Ukraine does not run across the road to anyone. What EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell admitted when he noted that these are two different processes.

Not competitors, but partners So what does official Kyiv need to do in order to obtain the status of a candidate country, start opening negotiations in a short time and not quarrel not only with the ST-6 countries, but also with powerful European players? These steps could be.

The first is to seriously engage in the formation of groups of lobbyists in Ukraine, where to involve not only politicians, but also journalists, representatives of scientific, business and creative circles, the Ukrainian community, as well as provide appropriate funding. According to expert estimates, Ukraine spends only about $2 million on lobbying in the EU.. annually. This is less than the similar costs of Serbia, Palestine, Bolivia. It should be understood that lobbying today is a very expensive robot..

The second is to establish a diplomatic presence in Kosovo (embassy department, consulate, trade mission) as a first step towards recognizing its independence.. And in the context of obtaining the status of a candidate country and European integration in general, this can help strengthen the position of Kyiv.

The third is to strengthen the diplomatic presence in the countries of ST-6 and understand the prospects of the political, economic and military-technical presence in the region, as well as its importance for the security system of Europe.

Fourth, we must be prepared that our application at the June EU summit will only be taken into account. Accept this calmly, without harsh statements and, without giving up, continue the diplomatic offensive on all fronts. But remember everyone who did not support Ukraine. For later.