EU-Summit-Ukraine-Wrap -- WEB
Metadata
- EU-Summit-Ukraine-Wrap -- WEB
- June 25, 2022
- Content Type Program
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English EU-SUMMIT-UKRAINE-WRAP HEADLINE: Ukraine, Moldova Hail EU Candidacy; Balkan States, Georgia Told to Wait TEASER: Critics say European Union should speed up enlargement process to counter Russian, Chinese influence in Balkans PUBLISHED AT: 06/24/2022 at 1055 pm BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: London VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: cobus, MPabe VIDEO SOURCE (S): Reuters, APTN, Skype PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:12 VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen TYPE: VPKGN EDITOR NOTES: )) ((INTRO)) [[Ukraine has hailed the European Union’s decision to grant it candidate status this week — a key milestone on joining the bloc. As Henry Ridgwell reports, several other states are seeking EU membership — and critics say the EU should speed up the enlargement process to counter interference from Russia and China.]] Ukraine’s president, its prime minister and parliament speaker gave a joint televised message Friday — and said the country’s integration into the EU is now irreversible. ((Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (in Ukrainian) )) “Ukraine has truly united. Ukraine is truly fighting. Ukraine will definitely win. Truly! Ukraine. Europe. The world. Humanity. Glory to Ukraine. Glory to Heroes.” EU leaders said it was a historic moment — but cautioned that the road to full membership for Ukraine and Moldova would not be easy. ((Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission President (in English) )) “But I am convinced that they will all move as swiftly as possible and work as hard as possible to implement the necessary reforms.” Those reforms will be difficult — and will take time, says analyst Andi Hoxhaj. ((Andi Hoxhaj, University of Warwick)) ((cf. Skype logo)) “It’s about strengthening the rule of law and the judicial system. In addition, they would like to see a track record of applying an anti-oligarch law, meaning that they want to root out corruption.” For now, Ukraine is focused on repelling Russia’s invasion in the east. The outcome of war will likely also determine the EU’s verdict on Ukrainian membership. ((Andi Hoxhaj, University of Warwick)) ((cf. Skype logo)) “Will they be able to allow a big country like Ukraine in, which still would have a lot of problems when it comes to its borders?” Other former Soviet states are eyeing EU membership. Georgia’s hopes of joining Ukraine and Moldova as candidates were dashed — as the EU demanded further reforms. North Macedonia has been a candidate for 17 years — but its progress is being blocked by Bulgaria in a dispute over ethnicity and language. Bulgarian lawmakers voted Friday to end that veto — but with conditions attached. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo also want to join the EU — but political crises have prevented Brussels from offering candidacy. Critics say that is shortsighted. ((Arton Demhasaj, Anti-Corruption Watchdog (in Albanian) )) “If countries who aspire to join EU face delays, they will re-orientate their policies and then we will have an increase of Russian and Chinese influence in the western Balkans and this will create problems within the EU itself.” Russia meanwhile said Ukraine’s EU candidacy would not pose a threat — but accused the West of seeking war. ((Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (in Russian))) “When World War II was about to start, Hitler gathered most of the European countries under his banner. Now the EU and NATO are also gathering the same modern coalition for the fight, and by and large, for war with the Russian Federation.” NATO and the EU say they do not seek war with Russia — and accuse Moscow of upending decades of peace in Europe with its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. ((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London))
- Transcript/Script EU-SUMMIT-UKRAINE-WRAP HEADLINE: Ukraine, Moldova Hail EU Candidacy; Balkan States, Georgia Told to Wait TEASER: Critics say European Union should speed up enlargement process to counter Russian, Chinese influence in Balkans PUBLISHED AT: 06/24/2022 at 1055 pm BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: London VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: cobus, MPabe VIDEO SOURCE (S): Reuters, APTN, Skype PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:12 VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen TYPE: VPKGN EDITOR NOTES: )) ((INTRO)) [[Ukraine has hailed the European Union’s decision to grant it candidate status this week — a key milestone on joining the bloc. As Henry Ridgwell reports, several other states are seeking EU membership — and critics say the EU should speed up the enlargement process to counter interference from Russia and China.]] Ukraine’s president, its prime minister and parliament speaker gave a joint televised message Friday — and said the country’s integration into the EU is now irreversible. ((Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (in Ukrainian) )) “Ukraine has truly united. Ukraine is truly fighting. Ukraine will definitely win. Truly! Ukraine. Europe. The world. Humanity. Glory to Ukraine. Glory to Heroes.” EU leaders said it was a historic moment — but cautioned that the road to full membership for Ukraine and Moldova would not be easy. ((Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission President (in English) )) “But I am convinced that they will all move as swiftly as possible and work as hard as possible to implement the necessary reforms.” Those reforms will be difficult — and will take time, says analyst Andi Hoxhaj. ((Andi Hoxhaj, University of Warwick)) ((cf. Skype logo)) “It’s about strengthening the rule of law and the judicial system. In addition, they would like to see a track record of applying an anti-oligarch law, meaning that they want to root out corruption.” For now, Ukraine is focused on repelling Russia’s invasion in the east. The outcome of war will likely also determine the EU’s verdict on Ukrainian membership. ((Andi Hoxhaj, University of Warwick)) ((cf. Skype logo)) “Will they be able to allow a big country like Ukraine in, which still would have a lot of problems when it comes to its borders?” Other former Soviet states are eyeing EU membership. Georgia’s hopes of joining Ukraine and Moldova as candidates were dashed — as the EU demanded further reforms. North Macedonia has been a candidate for 17 years — but its progress is being blocked by Bulgaria in a dispute over ethnicity and language. Bulgarian lawmakers voted Friday to end that veto — but with conditions attached. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo also want to join the EU — but political crises have prevented Brussels from offering candidacy. Critics say that is shortsighted. ((Arton Demhasaj, Anti-Corruption Watchdog (in Albanian) )) “If countries who aspire to join EU face delays, they will re-orientate their policies and then we will have an increase of Russian and Chinese influence in the western Balkans and this will create problems within the EU itself.” Russia meanwhile said Ukraine’s EU candidacy would not pose a threat — but accused the West of seeking war. ((Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (in Russian))) “When World War II was about to start, Hitler gathered most of the European countries under his banner. Now the EU and NATO are also gathering the same modern coalition for the fight, and by and large, for war with the Russian Federation.” NATO and the EU say they do not seek war with Russia — and accuse Moscow of upending decades of peace in Europe with its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. ((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London))
- NewsML Media Topics Conflict, War and Peace, Politics
- Topic Tags Summit
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date June 24, 2022 23:03 EDT
- Description English Ukraine has hailed the European Union’s decision to grant it candidate status this week — a key milestone on joining the bloc. As Henry Ridgwell reports, several other states are seeking EU membership — and critics say the EU should speed up the enlargement process to counter interference from Russia and China.
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English