Ukraine’s admission to the EU will be a heavy financial burden for the EU, it puts the future of the European project in question, writes the Financial Times.
The newspaper notes that at the end of June, EU leaders began to seriously discuss Ukraine’s admission to the EU.
According to the sources, during informal talks, it became clear how radically the association would have to adapt to such a “historic enlargement”.
The newspaper notes that if Ukraine joins the EU, it will not only be one of the most populous countries in the bloc, but also the poorest state in the union. However, it is Kiev’s bid, more than any other, that has raised serious questions about the future of the entire European project.
In addition, accepting Ukraine, with its farmland larger than Italy and an agricultural sector that employs 14% of its population, would be a “game changer” for the EU – Kiev would then become the largest recipient of EU agricultural subsidies and programmes.
In such a case, farmers in other countries would have to accept much lower payments, or the EU would have to significantly increase its agricultural budget, the newspaper says.
For example, in France, where the agricultural sector “has a huge influence,” the political consequences would be “frightening,” the authors argue.
Earlier, the European Commission said that there were no shortcuts for Ukraine to join the European Union.
French Transport Minister Clement Bon noted that if Ukraine joins the EU in the near future, it would be a financial and geopolitical shock for the European Union.
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