Portugal follows European Commission opinion on Ukraine joining

The Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa claimed that Portugal will follow the European Commission’s opinion on Ukraine and Moldova being accepted in the enlargement process, at the end of a day of hearing the parliamentary parties on the upcoming European Council of 23 and 24 June. The Secretary of State for European Affairs, Tiago Antunes, was also at the hearings.

António Costa that there is "almost unanimous consensus" among the parties "to follow this recommendation on Ukraine and Moldova". The Portuguese position was one of waiting for the European Commission’s opinion, which was "clear and unequivocal".

The European Commission recommended to the European Council that Ukraine and Moldova be granted the status of candidate countries to join the EU. Georgia’s application doesn’t yet meet the minimum requirements to be considered.

Enlargement implies new architecture

The Prime Minister also said that "this perspective of future integration, not just of Ukraine and Moldova, but also the wester Balkan states, requires a reflection on the EU’s future institutional and budgetary architecture, in order to create proper conditions for a strong, united European Union that is capable of meeting its goals and welcoming new countries".

António Costa underlined that "ignoring these circumstances means entering a path without knowing the path we’re on".

"We all need to be aware that there is no European Union enlargement without this implying changes to the European architecture. My conviction is that all my colleagues who have expressed their support of Ukraine joining with such emotion are aware that these changes are absolutely essential so that expectations are not frustrated", he said.