Netherlands to stay 'strict' with Ukraine on rule of law reforms, foreign minister says
"An intensive accession process still lies ahead in which Ukraine will have to implement an extensive reform agenda, not least when it comes to the rule of law and the fight against corruption," said Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen.
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen reiterated the Netherlands' strict stance on Ukraine's rule of law reforms during a lecture in Maastricht on August 27. Despite Ukraine's limited progress in rule-of-law reforms over the past year, Berendsen emphasized that the completion of these reforms is crucial for Ukraine to unlock billions in EU funds and advance its membership application. He stressed that while strictness is necessary, the Netherlands also seeks to be fair and engaged in the process.
Berendsen highlighted that an intensive accession process lies ahead, requiring Ukraine to implement a comprehensive reform agenda, particularly in the area of rule of law and anti-corruption efforts. The EU has formally opened the first of six enlargement clusters with Ukraine, focusing on the rule of law and anti-corruption reforms. To date, Ukraine's parliament has failed to pass laws addressing the 10 priorities outlined by the EU's enlargement chief.
Berendsen clarified that the Netherlands remains supportive of Ukraine's accession to the EU, deeming it essential for European security. He also mentioned the government's proposal to amend the EU accession process to include additional rule-of-law safeguards for newly joining member countries. The minister emphasized that increased media coverage of corruption cases may indicate improved efforts to combat corruption.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
