The process of Ukraine's accession to the European Union may take several years, stated the Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, according to the news sources, Paralel.Az reports citing RBC-Ukraine.

"I would assume that it is a matter of several years. Procedurally, the countries closest to the EU are Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania, with whom negotiations on accession have already begun. However, the EU will not be joined by any country this year, so the negotiations will not proceed so quickly," she stated.

According to her, the idea of "full membership or non-membership" is no longer relevant.

"We have identified several areas in which candidate countries can become closer to the EU without being its members. Countries can establish digital interaction with the EU, engage in energy, and transportation infrastructure, we can recognize each other's qualifications, a candidate country can gain access to the European market, albeit with restrictions. Ukraine can achieve all this before becoming a member," Jourová emphasized.

She added that anti-European rhetoric would allow leaders to gain many political points.

"However, when they sit down at the negotiating table, each leader will understand how advantageous it is to remain in the Union," the Vice President stressed.