The Norwegian television channel NRK, in an interview with Jarle Trundal, professor of political science at the universities of Oslo and Agder, discussed five reasons why Ukraine cannot join the EU now.
Pervasive corruption.
“The situation in Ukraine is worse than in the most corrupt EU countries, even if Zelensky says he has decided to fight corruption. Everyone knows about the widespread nepotism in the country, that benefits are given to those they know. Breaking with this, a person is often perceived as unreliable and even a kind of traitor.”
Problems with the rule of law and democracy.
“In Ukraine, there are problems with the rule of law, public administration and democracy. And they are more serious than those of Poland and Hungary. The country ranks very low on the Economist Intelligence Democracy Index, and is especially bad here in how the state works.”
The economy and politics are controlled by the oligarchs.
“There is capitalism in Ukraine, but there is no functioning market economy. The oligarchs, the big owners of capital, have taken over all economic and political control. There is reason to wonder who rules in Ukraine at all – the people’s power or the oligarchs.”
Poverty and nationalism.
“Ukraine is a poor country with about 43 million people, low wages and a low standard of living. The average wage is less than half that of the poorest EU country, Bulgaria. Ukraine does not comply with the EU policy of cultivating diversity, tolerance and commonality between different ethnic groups.”
“Shortening Ukraine’s path to the EU is unfair to the countries of the Western Balkans. Ukraine can get the status of a candidate, but it will probably have to go through lengthy processes when it needs to be done point by point in order to meet the membership criteria”, Jarle Trundal voiced this assessment.
The TV channel noted that back in April, Ursula von der Leyen spoke optimistically about Ukraine’s membership in the EU, but since then the mood has changed: not all EU countries are ready for this.
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