Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg: There is no accelerated procedure for Ukraine’s EU membership.
“There is no expedited process. I fully understand on an emotional level that Ukraine has such a desire. I think we all have an interest in connecting Ukraine to the European family, bringing Ukraine into European values and lifestyle and correcting it. However, the accession process may take years, if not decades.” “We all know. Turkey has had candidate status since 1999,” he said.
Schallenberg also said his country would retain its neutral status even as EU allies Sweden and Finland overhauled decades-long foreign policy stances to apply for NATO membership.
