French EU affairs minister: Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova likely to join EU “in a few years”

Clement Beaune, the French European Affairs Minister, said on Thursday that Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova would “probably” join the European Union “in a few years.”

It is my deep conviction that there will be a European Union which will be in a few years, I don't know when, in a few years, probably extended to Ukraine, to Moldova, to Georgia, perhaps to other countries, Beaune told French broadcaster France Inter, ahead of a meeting of EU leaders today in Versailles.

He added the admission of Ukraine to the EU though “is not for tomorrow.”

On Monday, ambassadors of EU member states agreed to invite the EU Commission to present the opinion on applications by Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to join the Union.

Georgia officially applied for membership on March 3, with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili signing the country’s membership application.