Portugal will vote for Ukraine’s EU candidacy: ‘We weren’t alone’, says Costa, but leaves out warnings

Next week, at the European Council that will discuss EU membership applications from Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, Portugal will vote in favour. Antonio Costa clarified the Portuguese position this afternoon, after listening to the parties with parliamentary seats, but he left some warnings and warnings for navigation. For Costa, the process will be ‘Long, demanding and uncertain’ And the countries that vote for it should do so “in good faith and in full body” and think about “The way we are entering”, which will require institutional and financial adjustment on the part of the European Union.

After a week in which he said he was awaiting a European Commission report in which he raised many doubts about the usefulness of urgent approval of Ukraine’s candidate status, Antonio Costa said Portugal would “follow” the European Commission’s recommendation and recognize Ukraine’s candidacy. . Just this week, the Prime Minister did not have a final position on the matter, but after reading the European Commission report, unambiguously in the recommendation, and hearing the parties “almost unanimously”, he specified that Portugal would vote in favor of and contribute to the consensus necessary for recognition of the three countries as countries A candidate for membership in the European Union.

portuguese position Costa raised many doubts this week About the interest at this stage of the approval of the articles of association, It ended up losing power After Emmanuel Macron, Mario Draghi and Olaf Schulz flew to Kyiv on Thursday to support approval of Ukraine’s candidacy “immediately”. When asked if the Frenchman’s attitude leaves him alone, Costa replied: “I don’t know if we were alone. We always told the truth in the face of circumstances and had no tricks up our sleeves. When we have doubts we expose doubts, and when we are sure we reveal certainty”.

Costa leaves warnings and warnings to the European Union

Despite the correct vote, Costa will not do so without giving warnings and warnings to other European partners. His initial position is that the process cannot be empty and that is why he insists on pointing out the risks. “We cannot be distracted from what is essential, which is not to neglect what Ukraine urgently needs, which is financial, military and humanitarian support,” he warned.

But moreover, for Costa, it is essential that the various countries that will now vote in favor of recognizing the nominations “know the path we are taking collectively”, recognizing that “Reflect on the EU’s institutional structure and budget to create good conditions for a strong and united European Union capable of achieving its goals and welcoming new candidate countries”He said.

Costa’s position is a wake-up call for what it means for a country of 40 million people (and a vast land) to join the European Union and what this could mean for internal balances. At the institutional level, for example, he indicated that it is necessary to think about a balance in the number of members of the European Parliament and the representation of each country, and the same for the composition of the European Commission, which has 27 commissioners and is already difficult to manage.