- vor 7 Stunden
Die Ukraine in der EU - eine Frage des Wann oder Ob?
In dieser Folge von The Ring aus dem Europäischen Parlament in Brüssel befassen wir uns mit dem Weg der Ukraine in die EU, mit den Europaabgeordneten Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe) und Aurelijus Veryga (ECR).
LESEN SIE MEHR : http://de.euronews.com/2026/02/26/die-ukraine-in-der-eu-eine-frage-des-wann-oder-ob
Abonnieren Sie! Euronews gibt es in 12 Sprachen.
In dieser Folge von The Ring aus dem Europäischen Parlament in Brüssel befassen wir uns mit dem Weg der Ukraine in die EU, mit den Europaabgeordneten Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe) und Aurelijus Veryga (ECR).
LESEN SIE MEHR : http://de.euronews.com/2026/02/26/die-ukraine-in-der-eu-eine-frage-des-wann-oder-ob
Abonnieren Sie! Euronews gibt es in 12 Sprachen.
Kategorie
🗞
NewsTranskript
00:08Hallo da und willkommen zu The Ring, Eurengise's debateng show,
00:13broadcasting hier von der Europäischen Parlaments in Brüssel.
00:16Once a week, elected members of the Europäischen Parlaments
00:19go head-to-head on some of the major issues facing the European Union today.
00:24This week, we hone in on Ukraine,
00:27as this week marks four years since Russia's full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine.
00:32With peace talks having reached stalemate,
00:35another question looms here in the corridors of the European Parliament.
00:39Should Ukraine be given fast-track membership into the European Union?
00:43Luis Alberto, Sanomaya Tabariya, report.
00:47Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine,
00:51an enlargement has shifted from a distant policy debate
00:54to a strategic imperative for the European Union.
00:58What was once treated as a slow, technical process
01:01is now bound up with questions of war, security and Europe's geopolitical future.
01:08Granting Ukraine candidate status in June 2022 was more than symbolic.
01:13It was a signal that the EU sees its borders and its security as intertwined.
01:19But turning that promise into membership will require sweeping reforms from Kyiv,
01:25while the EU must prepare for the financial and institutional impact
01:28of absorbing a large war-scarred country.
01:32Supporters argue that enlargement bolsters fragile democracies,
01:36deters further Russian aggression and strengthens Europe's global weight.
01:40Critics warn of overstretched budgets, strained decision-making
01:43and public backlash in member states already wary of deeper integration.
01:48Has enlargement become a measure not just of solidarity with Ukraine,
01:52but of the EU's capacity to act strategically in an uncertain world?
02:00That is the question that we have for our contenders.
02:03Let's meet them.
02:06Petrus Ostrovychis, a Lithuanian MEP from the Liberal Renew Europe Group.
02:10A career diplomat, he sits on key committees,
02:12including Foreign Affairs and Security and Defense, at the European Parliament.
02:16Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine,
02:18he advocates EU support for Kyiv.
02:21As a rapporteur of the draft report on the EU enlargement strategy,
02:24Ostrovychis stated, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine
02:27and the ongoing significant geopolitical shifts
02:30have prompted a new dynamism in the enlargement process.
02:33Enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity.
02:40Aurelius Veriga, a Lithuanian MEP from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group.
02:44He has expressed his backing for continued EU support for Ukraine.
02:48While emphasizing the need for merit-based progress and adherence to EU standards,
02:52Veriga has participated in parliamentary resolutions
02:55reaffirming the EU's steadfast support to Ukraine
02:57and recognizing the advancing reforms and fulfilling accession criteria
03:01will be key to Ukraine's future integration into the Union.
03:07So Petrus Ostrovychis and Aurelius Veriga, welcome to The Ring.
03:11Hello, hello, hello.
03:12Look, the idea here is to give our viewers just a taste of what exactly goes on
03:16in the European Parliament, what you do when you debate, what you discuss.
03:20So let's get started. Petrus, should Ukraine join the European Union by 2027?
03:25I mean, I would consider it probably as a start of negotiations.
03:30How long the negotiations will take, what kind of negotiations we will have
03:34and probably what kind of initial membership we will offer to Ukraine, it depends.
03:40It depends. What about you, sir? Should Ukraine join by 2027?
03:45Well, I agree with Petrus that the target should be ambitious one,
03:50because if you set a long-lasting target like 2030 or 2035,
03:57it means that, you know, it lowers our perception how fast we should move.
04:02So if we say 2027, most probably, technically, it will not happen,
04:07but it adjusts our attempts to speed up.
04:11And why do you think Ukraine should join the European Union?
04:15Well, look, I mean, after the full scale of Russian invasion to Ukraine
04:21and as well as threatening European security,
04:24I think we have absolutely different political description of Europe.
04:28Ukraine is a part of Europe.
04:30To my understanding, Russia never been and is not a part of Europe.
04:34So that's why, I mean, Ukraine rejoins its family.
04:38And what benefits would Ukrainian membership bring to the European Union?
04:42Well, first of all, if we would look to today's perspective,
04:47first of all, I believe it's safety.
04:49Because EU, actually now Ukraine fights for the EU safety
04:56in a way that Russia was always threatening at least the Baltic countries,
05:04but also other EU member states like Finland or Poland.
05:09So Ukraine joining the EU, first of all, would mean the security.
05:14Because now Ukraine, I would say,
05:17is the most advanced country in fighting Russia's aggression.
05:24They do have experience.
05:26So this is the security and safety issue.
05:28And then it's a huge economy.
05:31It's a huge possibility for the EU itself
05:35with the new possibilities to expand, you know,
05:40the economical growth for the EU itself.
05:44And do all your colleagues in the ECO,
05:46the Conservatives, support your view here?
05:47I believe most of them, yes, because, you know,
05:51everybody would like to see Europe safe.
05:54ECR was always on this issue very consistent,
05:59supporting Ukraine, fighting Russia's aggression.
06:01So I believe, yes.
06:03But one thing is defence and security.
06:05Another point is, of course, the functioning of the EU institutions,
06:08taking in such a huge member.
06:10How would even this parliament function then?
06:12Well, probably EU must change as well.
06:16Look, we are not a law firm.
06:20We are not.
06:21Although, I mean, our key communitaire
06:23is fundamentally important for the European Union.
06:26We stand, I mean, on the rule of law,
06:28on principles of law and so on and so forth.
06:31But the world is changing.
06:33So we become more geopolitical.
06:35So we need, I mean, to increase, I mean,
06:37EU needs bigger power, bigger geopolitical power.
06:41So we need more partners.
06:43And probably partners like Ukraine
06:46might change the European Union as well for much better.
06:50Not just Ukraine itself will be reforming and transforming,
06:53but the European Union will receive a kind of impetus.
06:56I mean, a positive impetus for a change.
07:00Politically, economically, and from the security point of view.
07:03And critics are arguing that the commission
07:05is trying to power grab a little bit of that power.
07:07What would you say to that?
07:09The world has changed a lot,
07:11not just because of war in Ukraine,
07:13but geopolitics, if we see the broader picture,
07:16is evolving very rapidly.
07:19So I believe that we are, as politicians,
07:24elected to react to the new reality
07:27and to adjust politics to the new reality.
07:31React and adjust fast.
07:33Yeah, and adjust fast.
07:35And adjust in a way to reflect the new reality.
07:40So how do these adjustments look?
07:43Are we talking here about actual radical reform
07:45of the institutions before we enlarge?
07:48I believe it could go in a parallel.
07:53Happening at the same time,
07:55because, you know, we should not confront the two things
07:59because my fear then would be that, you know,
08:02some more conservative member states
08:04could use that as an argument against, you know,
08:11faster accession.
08:12So I believe we should find a balance in this way,
08:16going two ways at the same time.
08:18But that's already happening, right?
08:20I still see the European Union
08:22as a bit of sleepy giant.
08:25We have to wake up ourselves, all right?
08:27This next enlargement,
08:30which will be definitely different from the previous ones.
08:33I mean, all previous ones.
08:35It's a chance for you to transform itself.
08:38So that's why I would call this process
08:41of internal reforms and enlargement
08:43like a two-way street, same time.
08:45I mean, we shouldn't waste any time given now
08:50and, I mean, transform ourselves
08:52and at the same time to enlarge.
08:54And can we afford this enlargement?
08:55I mean, there's big talks coming up
08:57in the next few years as well over the budget.
08:59I think the budget is an important issue.
09:02But, again, we are more than a budget line.
09:06The budget of the European Union in the future
09:09will be different.
09:10I hope revenues side will be different.
09:13So we have to reform revenue sides of the...
09:15But will we be able to afford Ukraine,
09:16which will be a net recipient
09:17for the first couple of years?
09:18I mean, Ukraine is broke.
09:20The 90 billion euro loan is frozen this week
09:22because of politics.
09:23But, as I said before,
09:25I mean, incoming enlargement will be different.
09:28I mean, listening to the Ukrainian politicians,
09:31they already kind of sent a message
09:33that we don't need much of the support
09:35for agriculture.
09:37And probably it's a good chance.
09:39I mean, probably seeing this enlargement
09:45towards Ukraine, Western Balkans,
09:47it's a chance to reform some policies lines
09:50of the European Union.
09:51Do you show that optimism
09:52that this time it would be different?
09:54If this will not be different,
09:58I have a fear that we will lose, exactly.
10:02The Ukraine will not become a member.
10:04Sure.
10:04Because your question is right to the point.
10:08Ukraine is one of the biggest,
10:10let's say, the new possible member states.
10:14And if we would follow the same logic
10:18with the cohesion,
10:20with the agricultural,
10:22most probably this will not happen.
10:24But at the same time,
10:25we should be,
10:26I would say,
10:27more flexible
10:28when we look also to other areas.
10:31And there could be also a disagreement
10:33between different political perspectives
10:36where this flexibility could happen.
10:39One is the money,
10:41another could be,
10:42I don't know,
10:43the legal systems
10:45or other things
10:46because we understand Ukraine now
10:49is in the war.
10:50Some territories most probably
10:52will be lost at least
10:54for some period of time.
10:55So there will be a lot of questions.
10:57And many of our viewers would argue
10:58that you cannot allow a country at war
11:01into the European Union.
11:03It will change.
11:04I believe Ukraine in a final end
11:06will be a winner in this
11:09against the Russian aggression.
11:11But the war is not ending anytime soon.
11:13And Ukrainians know that.
11:14We saw that this week.
11:15We saw it on their faces.
11:16We have time.
11:17Let's be patient.
11:18Let's be prudent in this regard.
11:21Not to, you know,
11:22make any hectic decisions
11:24or conditionalities imposed.
11:27Let's take time.
11:28I mean, see,
11:29I mean, more distant future.
11:31Okay.
11:31Let me stop you there,
11:32gentlemen,
11:33as we're just getting warmed up
11:34here on The Ring.
11:39So now it's time for our viewers
11:40to get a real taste,
11:42as I said,
11:42of European Parliament chamber debates
11:44where MEPs tend to fire
11:45hard questions at each other.
11:47That means it's time for you
11:48to directly challenge each other.
11:51Mr. Virga,
11:51we can start with you.
11:52What's your first question?
11:54Okay.
11:54So first question from my side
11:56would be
11:58what considering the overall context
12:00of today's geopolitics
12:02could be considered
12:03as a victory for Ukraine?
12:08What means victory?
12:10We have pronounced
12:11many good promises
12:12towards Ukraine.
12:13We said,
12:14I mean,
12:14Ukraine is a part of Europe
12:15and so on and so forth.
12:17Now we have to deliver.
12:18We have to prove our words
12:20by deeds,
12:21by actions.
12:22So that's why
12:22we have to open
12:23accession negotiations
12:24as soon as possible,
12:26delivering in this regard
12:28towards Ukraine.
12:28and I believe everybody,
12:31I mean,
12:32in all around
12:33understand that
12:34this is a dynamic
12:36process,
12:37will be negotiations,
12:38you know,
12:39meetings,
12:40adjustments
12:40and so on and so forth.
12:41But let's
12:42start moving
12:44the sooner the better.
12:45Let's start moving
12:46the sooner the better.
12:47But if I may,
12:47the 90 billion euros
12:48is frozen,
12:49the loan.
12:50What are the other options
12:50on the table?
12:52It's a disaster.
12:53I would call it
12:55absolutely,
12:55you know,
12:57dead end,
12:58I mean,
12:58for decision making
12:59in the European Union.
13:00If I'm correct,
13:02I mean,
13:02those 24 member states
13:04which backed
13:06the 90 billion loan,
13:09they've been told
13:10that, I mean,
13:11there will be no unanimity
13:12needed, I mean,
13:13to vote on this issue.
13:14So now Orban came out
13:16just out of the blue
13:18asking for unanimity vote.
13:20I mean,
13:20what is wrong
13:21with our decision making?
13:22I mean,
13:23I believe Orban
13:25really must be
13:26in the court,
13:27I mean,
13:27for this threatening
13:29and this blackmailing
13:30operation.
13:31And unfortunately,
13:32we don't have
13:32a colleague
13:33of Viktor Orban
13:34on the show today.
13:35We did invite them,
13:36but unfortunately,
13:36they were not available.
13:37Time for you now
13:38to address your first question.
13:39All right.
13:40So,
13:42Aurelius,
13:42given your political groups,
13:45political,
13:46let's say,
13:48image,
13:48which criteria,
13:50political or economic,
13:52should be most decisive
13:53deciding upon
13:55membership of Ukraine
13:57or any new
13:58member state?
14:01Well,
14:01good question.
14:03I believe
14:04they are not
14:06separable
14:07because,
14:08you know,
14:09the economic criteria
14:10always comes
14:11from some
14:12political perspectives.
14:13We do have
14:14different beliefs,
14:15the conservative,
14:17more liberal,
14:18more social beliefs,
14:19even on economic criteria.
14:21So,
14:21I believe
14:22this should be
14:23a mixture.
14:24And from
14:25my perspective,
14:27I think
14:28we should have
14:29more,
14:30let's say,
14:31tactical flexibility
14:32understanding
14:33the needs
14:34of the countries
14:35that are reflecting
14:36more economic
14:37criteria.
14:38I mean,
14:39Poland,
14:39most probably,
14:41or Hungary.
14:42And at the same time,
14:44other countries
14:45would probably
14:46prefer mostly
14:47political criteria.
14:48So,
14:48I believe
14:49it should be a mixture.
14:50Would you agree
14:51with that?
14:52I would probably
14:53start from
14:53political criteria
14:54as a starting point.
14:57I mean,
14:57economic criteria,
14:58of course.
14:58I mean,
14:58convergence of
14:59new member states
15:00will take time.
15:01I mean,
15:01let's be realistic.
15:03Now it's time,
15:04Petros Estovicius,
15:04for your next question
15:05for Mr. Veria.
15:06I have a very
15:07provocative one.
15:08Good.
15:09Aurelius,
15:09would you agree
15:10with the
15:11kind of
15:12different kind
15:13of membership?
15:14I mean,
15:14second category
15:15of membership,
15:16if to speak about,
15:18for example,
15:19the case of Ukraine?
15:20Well,
15:21I don't know
15:21what that means
15:22because,
15:23you know,
15:23it's devil
15:24is always in details
15:25what that means.
15:26But I would
15:28definitely agree
15:28that the process
15:30should be adjusted
15:31to,
15:33from the previous
15:34times to
15:34nowadays,
15:36and Ukraine
15:36is not the only,
15:38let's say,
15:39candidate
15:39to access.
15:41so definitely
15:42it would be
15:43to all of them
15:45probably,
15:45yeah,
15:46so we have
15:46to bear that
15:47in mind.
15:48But I would
15:48agree that
15:49we should adjust
15:50the processes.
15:51It should be
15:52different
15:52than previous times.
15:54I think it means
15:55it's like giving Ukraine
15:56the key to the house,
15:57but not allowing them
15:58into every single room.
15:59So perhaps
16:00being allowed
16:00to sit in at the summit
16:01but not vote,
16:02for example,
16:02is that something
16:03you would support?
16:03I mean,
16:04it's indeed
16:05devil in details.
16:06I mean,
16:07nobody quarrels
16:08about this,
16:09but to me
16:10it's important,
16:11I mean,
16:11to have a very
16:12clear time definition
16:13when this transition
16:14period will end up.
16:17President Zelensky
16:18already,
16:18I mean,
16:18expressed his
16:19harsh criticism
16:20about secondary
16:21kind of membership.
16:22So that's why
16:23we have to be
16:24sensitive towards this.
16:25We have to treat
16:26each and every
16:26European state
16:28as, you know,
16:29eligible for
16:29full membership.
16:30But let's be
16:32very clear
16:32in criteria
16:33when it ends.
16:34And it's a symbol,
16:35of course,
16:35would be a negative
16:36symbol you could
16:36be sending there
16:37to Ukrainians.
16:38You have another
16:39question now?
16:40I would like to
16:41ask more precisely
16:44you, Petras,
16:45because you have
16:45an experience
16:46in negotiations
16:47when Lithuania
16:48was accessing
16:49the EU.
16:51How would you
16:52see from your
16:53perspective
16:53where Europe
16:55could demonstrate
16:55or should
16:56demonstrate
16:57flexibility
16:58regarding the
16:59requirements
16:59of accession
17:00when we speak
17:01about the new
17:02accessing countries,
17:03new candidates?
17:05I would be
17:06very, you know,
17:07insistent on
17:08democratic criteria.
17:09I mean,
17:09to start negotiations,
17:11there must be some,
17:12you know,
17:12already pre-fulfilling
17:14criteria.
17:15I mean,
17:15it's clear.
17:16I mean,
17:16democracy,
17:17human rights,
17:17I mean,
17:18nothing to negotiate
17:19about.
17:19I mean,
17:20once you fulfill,
17:21you're ready to start.
17:23But then,
17:23on economic criteria,
17:25indeed,
17:25I mean,
17:25it's very fluid
17:27process.
17:28There are good
17:29and bad examples
17:29in this regard
17:30to what comes
17:31to the European
17:32history.
17:33But,
17:34you know,
17:34we have to impose
17:36probably this kind
17:37of approach
17:37of gradual,
17:38differentiated
17:40integration.
17:41So,
17:41letting,
17:42for example,
17:42Ukraine
17:43or other
17:44candidate countries
17:44into the single
17:45markets,
17:46certain parts
17:47of the single
17:48markets,
17:48once they,
17:49you know,
17:51ready,
17:51I mean,
17:51to compete
17:52on a single
17:53market,
17:54not harming
17:54the single
17:55market
17:55by kind
17:57of destruction
17:58factors.
17:59So,
18:00here,
18:00I am more
18:01flexible.
18:02On economic
18:03criteria,
18:04I think it
18:04will be
18:05more lengthy
18:06time-wise
18:07and probably
18:09more in
18:09details
18:10if it takes.
18:11Well,
18:11look,
18:12we have heard
18:12the first
18:13views of
18:13our MEPs.
18:14It is time
18:15now to bring
18:15in a new
18:16voice.
18:20I'd like
18:20to bring
18:21in the voice
18:21of President
18:22Volodymyr
18:22Selenskyj,
18:23speaking alongside
18:24the Commission
18:24President,
18:25Ursula von der Leyen
18:26in Kyiv
18:27this week.
18:27He said this
18:28regarding EU
18:29membership.
18:30It is important
18:30to receive a
18:31clear date
18:32for joining
18:33the European
18:33Union.
18:34If there is
18:34no date,
18:35if there is
18:35no such
18:35guarantee,
18:36Russia will
18:37find a way
18:37to block
18:38Ukraine for
18:39decades
18:39by dividing
18:40you,
18:40by dividing
18:41Europe.
18:41We must
18:42protect
18:43ourselves
18:43from this.
18:45So,
18:45of course,
18:46when it
18:46comes to
18:46a timeline,
18:47both of
18:47you earlier,
18:48when I
18:48proposed the
18:48idea of
18:492027,
18:51you basically
18:51said that's
18:51not possible.
18:52So,
18:52what date
18:53would you
18:53like to
18:53propose?
18:54I would
18:55say 2030
18:56could be
18:57a really
18:58realistic
18:58scenario for
18:59Ukraine to
19:00join.
19:00Same question
19:01to you.
19:01I think
19:02what
19:03President
19:03Zelensky
19:04tries to
19:05convey to
19:06us,
19:06I mean,
19:07he needs
19:08our commitment
19:09to start
19:10negotiations.
19:11Once you
19:11start negotiations,
19:12we'll be
19:13the end.
19:13So,
19:14I mean,
19:14the more
19:15committed
19:15both sides
19:16are,
19:16the more,
19:17you know,
19:18kind of
19:19efficient
19:20negotiations
19:21process is
19:21about.
19:22And,
19:22believe me,
19:23we will
19:24have absolutely
19:24new
19:25accession
19:26strategy.
19:27And we
19:27heard this
19:27week as
19:28well,
19:28alongside
19:28President
19:29Zelensky,
19:30we heard
19:30also Ursula
19:31von der Leyen
19:31said she
19:32couldn't put
19:32a date
19:32on it,
19:33which we
19:33saw a very
19:33upset-looking
19:34President
19:35Zelensky.
19:35Look,
19:36it is time
19:36to take a
19:37very short
19:38break here
19:38on The
19:38Ring,
19:39but do
19:39stay with
19:39us.
19:40We'll be
19:40back very
19:41soon with
19:41some more
19:41political
19:42punch.
19:51Welcome
19:51back to
19:52The Ring,
19:53Euronews'
19:54weekly show
19:54broadcasting
19:55here from
19:55the European
19:56Parliament
19:56in Brussels.
19:57I'm joined
19:58by the
19:58MEPs Petras
19:59Austravicius
20:00and Aurelius
20:01Verga,
20:01and the
20:01idea here
20:02is to
20:02bring
20:02European
20:03Parliament
20:03debates
20:04to your
20:04very
20:04sofa.
20:05This
20:06week,
20:06our
20:06guests
20:07MEPs
20:07are sharing
20:08their views
20:08on whether
20:08or not
20:09Ukraine
20:09should be
20:10fast-tracked
20:10into the
20:11European
20:11Union.
20:11And as
20:12always,
20:12we love
20:13bringing in
20:13your views,
20:14so we
20:14had a look
20:15at some
20:15of the
20:15data that
20:16suggests
20:16actually 52%
20:18of EU
20:19citizens
20:19express their
20:20support for
20:21Ukraine's
20:21accession,
20:22providing,
20:22of course,
20:23the country
20:23meets all
20:24the membership
20:24conditions.
20:2541%
20:26oppose
20:27Ukraine,
20:29and Ukraine
20:29is most
20:30favourite
20:30candidate for
20:31EU membership
20:32in as many
20:32as 14
20:33member states.
20:35So this is
20:36interesting there,
20:36the majority
20:36are in favour,
20:37but it's still
20:38quite tight.
20:39How do your
20:40voters back home
20:41feel about this,
20:42Mr.
20:42Verga?
20:43Well,
20:44I would guess
20:45we don't see the
20:47data on each
20:48and every member
20:49of the state,
20:49but I would guess
20:50this could be
20:51very much the
20:53same like the
20:54percentage of
20:55investment to
20:56defence according
20:58to the distance
20:59to Moscow.
20:59So I believe
21:00that, you know,
21:01the eastern
21:01part of
21:02Europe that
21:03had an
21:04experience
21:04with the
21:06Russian
21:06aggression
21:06or even
21:07occupation,
21:08they would
21:08really support
21:10Ukraine's
21:11accession to
21:12EU,
21:13but I'm just
21:14guessing,
21:15so I don't
21:15know.
21:15What about you?
21:16How would your
21:16voters feel about
21:17this?
21:17Well, I take
21:18the present
21:19public opinion
21:20in the European
21:20Union towards
21:21Ukraine,
21:21much led by
21:23those pictures,
21:24I mean,
21:24see about
21:25Ukraine,
21:26destruction,
21:27war,
21:28grim pictures,
21:29sad faces,
21:31and so on and so
21:31forth.
21:32The public
21:33opinion,
21:33I mean,
21:34population of
21:35Europe must be
21:36well explained
21:36about cons and
21:38pros of each
21:41and every
21:41candidate country,
21:42and it should be
21:44well, I mean,
21:44it should be
21:45business of
21:46politicians,
21:47not just,
21:47you know,
21:48President Zelensky,
21:49I mean,
21:50crying for his
21:51country and
21:52advancing Ukraine
21:53towards the
21:54European Union.
21:55So that's why
21:55if we explain
21:56all arguments
21:58about Ukraine,
22:00it's a largest
22:01country,
22:01lots of mineral
22:02resources,
22:03we need it.
22:04I mean,
22:04our economies
22:05are looking for
22:06this around,
22:07so population,
22:09Ukrainians are
22:09very much,
22:10you know,
22:11motivated and
22:12qualified labor
22:13force.
22:14So they're
22:14innovative,
22:15we see it in
22:16times of war
22:17as well.
22:18And finally,
22:19look,
22:20I think this
22:21kind of
22:21convergence of
22:22probably less
22:23developed economic
22:26economy to
22:27more developed
22:28economy,
22:28it creates
22:29a kind of
22:29very positive
22:30push for
22:31overall European
22:32economy.
22:33So that's why
22:33I think
22:34Europeans should
22:35be given
22:35figures,
22:36good arguments,
22:37and it will
22:37take time,
22:38I'm sure.
22:38Because Europeans
22:39are clearly so
22:39very worried
22:40about the
22:40cost of living
22:41crisis,
22:41and they're
22:41worried that
22:42they might
22:42get poorer
22:43as other
22:43countries join
22:44the bloc
22:45and then
22:45gradually get
22:46richer.
22:46Well,
22:47it didn't
22:47happen
22:48previously
22:49when Europe
22:50enlarged
22:51in the
22:52previous
22:54enlargement,
22:55so it
22:55will not
22:56happen
22:56also this
22:57time.
22:58So I
22:59agree that
22:59we have
23:00to explain
23:02people
23:04to have
23:05more
23:05explanations.
23:06But you're not
23:06very good at
23:07explaining.
23:07The EU has a
23:08major communication
23:09problem,
23:09let's be honest.
23:10Yes,
23:10we do have
23:11a problem
23:12and I
23:14believe
23:14those only
23:1552%
23:16is a
23:18clear
23:20example
23:20or
23:21illustration
23:21that we
23:22still need
23:23more
23:23explanation
23:25about
23:25Ukraine.
23:26But often
23:26the perception
23:27now for our
23:27viewers,
23:28they're looking
23:28at Brussels,
23:29the constant
23:29summits and
23:30squabbles and
23:30disagreements
23:31and spats.
23:32I mean,
23:32this week is a
23:33perfect example
23:34with Hungary
23:35and Slovakia
23:35blocking the
23:3620th sanctions
23:37package against
23:38Moscow and,
23:39of course,
23:39the 90 billion
23:40fund being
23:40frozen,
23:41the loan
23:41being frozen
23:42by Hungary.
23:43How could
23:44an EU
23:44function,
23:45a big EU
23:46with more
23:46than 30
23:46member states,
23:47how could
23:47the council
23:47actually function
23:48and have
23:49an actual
23:50union that
23:50speaks with
23:50one voice?
23:51Well,
23:52I mean,
23:52firstly,
23:53we're really
23:54still led
23:55by cliché.
23:56I mean,
23:56a lot of
23:57cliché.
23:57You remember
23:57probably
23:59after the
23:59Big Bang
24:00enlargement,
24:01the Polish
24:02plumber?
24:03I mean,
24:04that was
24:05a kind of
24:05perception
24:06in France.
24:07But the
24:07Polish plumber
24:08didn't destroy
24:09sanitation
24:10system in
24:10France,
24:11okay?
24:11But definitely
24:13coming to
24:13this bigger
24:14issue,
24:15we have to
24:16decide upon
24:17ourselves.
24:17This is a very
24:18serious strategic
24:19issue.
24:20It's not a
24:21daily issue.
24:22Next enlargement,
24:23I mean,
24:23we're speaking
24:24about 10
24:25countries and
24:25more,
24:26they will
24:26pre-decide
24:27Europe's future.
24:28And we should
24:29ask not probably
24:30the, you know,
24:32the generation
24:33now in power,
24:34but young
24:34generation.
24:35Okay?
24:36I mean,
24:36let's ask young
24:37people what kind
24:38of Europe,
24:38what kind
24:39of cooperation
24:39they want
24:40to have
24:40those countries
24:42joining the
24:42European Union.
24:43And we will
24:44get more
24:44optimism.
24:45Well,
24:45please write to
24:46us,
24:46the ring
24:47at
24:47yournews.com.
24:48That is our
24:48email address.
24:49We love hearing
24:49your views.
24:50And you mentioned
24:51there,
24:51Petit is the
24:52Polish plumber,
24:52very wealthy
24:53Polish plumbers
24:54now heading back
24:55to Poland
24:55to work on
24:57their booming
24:57economy.
24:58But now it is
24:59time to move on
25:00to our fifth
25:00and final round.
25:02Are you ready?
25:02Yes,
25:03we are.
25:03Yes.
25:08So now it's
25:09time for something
25:09different.
25:10I'm going to ask
25:11my guest,
25:11I mean,
25:12please a set
25:12of questions
25:13and you've only
25:14got two options
25:15here.
25:15Yes or no.
25:16Is that doable?
25:19That's most
25:19complicated.
25:20I think you're
25:21going to struggle.
25:21I think you're
25:22going to struggle,
25:23but let's try.
25:23Let's try.
25:24Is the EU too
25:25large to function
25:26today?
25:27Yes or no?
25:27No.
25:29No.
25:31Should Ukraine
25:31be fast-tracked
25:32into the European
25:33Union?
25:33Yes or no?
25:34Yes.
25:35Yes.
25:36Should Ukraine
25:37join the EU
25:38before 2030?
25:39Yes.
25:41I would like
25:42to see.
25:42Yes.
25:43Is the EU ready
25:44for another
25:45big bang
25:45enlargement?
25:46Yes or no?
25:49Take a question.
25:53Factually,
25:54not,
25:54but
25:56politically,
25:57I would say
25:58yes.
25:59Not yet.
26:00It will take
26:01time.
26:01Should
26:02agriculture
26:02subsidies
26:03be reduced
26:04in current
26:04member states
26:05to accommodate
26:05Ukraine?
26:09Oh,
26:09that's a good
26:10question.
26:12I mean,
26:12common
26:13agriculture
26:13policy
26:14will be
26:14different.
26:15And I hope
26:16this New York
26:17session will
26:18accelerate this
26:19process.
26:20So,
26:20for the moment,
26:21I would say
26:22no.
26:23And should
26:23enlargement
26:24decisions
26:24require
26:25unanimous
26:25approval
26:25from all
26:26member states?
26:27as a final
26:28decision,
26:29yes.
26:29In between,
26:31no.
26:32Yes.
26:33And is
26:33enlargement
26:34today more
26:34about security
26:35than values,
26:36do you think,
26:36Petros?
26:37Both.
26:37I mean,
26:37security is
26:38about values,
26:39values about
26:39security.
26:40Yeah,
26:41the same.
26:43And is
26:43the future
26:44of the European
26:45Union bright,
26:45yes or no?
26:46Absolutely so,
26:47because we are
26:47here.
26:48Yes,
26:49definitely,
26:49yes.
26:50So,
26:51we have
26:51a conservative
26:52and a liberal
26:52both agreeing
26:53on a lot
26:53of topics.
26:54Why don't you
26:55join the same
26:55party?
26:56We are from
26:57Lithuania,
26:57we don't need
26:58to join
26:59the same
26:59party.
27:00It's hard
27:01to find
27:01disagreement
27:02about Ukraine
27:03in Lithuania.
27:03I can tell
27:04you,
27:04we fight
27:05like cats
27:05home.
27:06But here
27:07in Brussels,
27:08in the European
27:09Parliament,
27:09when it comes
27:10to strategic
27:11decisions,
27:12we join
27:12forces.
27:13It's all
27:13about finding
27:14compromise,
27:14gentlemen.
27:15Thank you so
27:15much.
27:15That answer
27:16does bring
27:16this edition
27:17of The Ring
27:18to an end.
27:19Thank you so
27:19much to Petros
27:20Austervitius
27:20and Aurelius
27:21Velga.
27:22It's been
27:22great hearing
27:23your views.
27:23And of course,
27:24you can join
27:24us anytime
27:25by writing
27:26to us as
27:26well at
27:27The Ring
27:27at
27:28yournews.com.
27:28But thank
27:29you so
27:29much for
27:29tuning in.
27:30Take care
27:30and see
27:30you soon
27:31here on
27:32Euronews.
Kommentare