The three ministers discussed Russia's war in Ukraine and plans to enlarge the EU and reform its institutions when they met at Kórnik Castle near the western Polish city of Poznań, accompanied by a Ukrainian deputy prime minister, officials said.
Photo: Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk
Poland's Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, Germany's Anna Lührmann, and France's Laurence Boone France urged "an efficient and transparent process of enlarging the European Union," public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Poland's European Affairs Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk (second from left), France's Laurence Boone (left), and Germany's Anna Lührmann (right) meet at Kórnik Castle in western Poland on Friday, accompanied by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna (second from right). Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk
Szynkowski vel Sęk called for a quick EU entry for Ukraine, while also reaffirming Poland's support for the European aspirations of the Western Balkans and Moldova.
He spoke in favour of granting EU candidate status to Georgia as soon as that country "meets the necessary conditions," the IAR news agency reported.
Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk.
"The EU enlargement process should be perceived as a key stabilising factor in the European Neighbourhood, especially in the current geopolitical context,” Szynkowski vel Sęk said.
“It is an opportunity not only for the countries aspiring to membership, but also an opportunity for us, EU member states, to improve our security and increase the importance and influence of the EU on a global scale," he added, as quoted by the Polish Prime Minister's Office.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, who is in charge of her country's bid to join the EU and NATO, told the meeting that her government was continually introducing reforms to bring the country closer to EU membership.
“We have always said that the pace of Ukraine’s European integration depends first and foremost on Ukraine itself, on our commitment to transformation, on our determination to implement reforms that bring us closer to the European Union," Stefanishyna said at a joint news conference, as quoted by the Ukrainian government.
She declared that Ukraine "will take all the necessary steps to enable the opening of accession negotiations."
Stefanishyna thanked Poland, Germany and France "for their decision to send an official letter to the European Commission on the EU enlargement process," according to the gov.ua website.
Poland's European Affairs Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk (right) and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna (left) shake hands as they meet at Kórnik Castle in western Poland on Friday. Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk
The Polish, German and French ministers agreed that they would visit Ukraine and Western Balkan countries together in the near future, the IAR news agency reported.
Photo: PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk
Poland, Germany and France together form what is known as the Weimar Triangle group. It was set up by the three countries in the early 1990s to help overcome divisions in Europe by integrating Poland with European and Euro-Atlantic structures. That goal was achieved through Poland's accession to NATO, and then to the European Union.
Today the Weimar Triangle is a platform for consulting and discussing common positions on key policy issues within the European bloc, with talks taking place at various levels of government administration, according to officials.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, gov.ua
Click on the audio player above to listen to a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.