Former European Commission chief bashes Kyiv’s EU candidacy.
  • vzq@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    6·
    1 year ago

    The pervasive issues with corruption in pre-war Ukraine were universally recognized, not in the last place by Ukrainian officials.

    In fact, you might remember US ambassador Yovanovitch, who was a staunch supporter of Ukraine’s anti corruption efforts, but had to go when it started interfering with President Trump’s own corruption. It was a whole thing. There was an impeachment and everything.

    Anyway, two things can be true at once. Ukraine is the victim of a horrific war of aggression by its much larger neighbor and deserves our unwavering support. Ukraine has a serious corruption problem that needs to be at least partially addressed before it can be integrated fully into the western systems.

    It’s not a slight to Ukraine to say this. It’s a recognition that we have work to do. Together.

  • jmcs@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    3·
    1 year ago

    The guy that was prime minister of a sovereign money laundromat doesn’t have that much moral ground to speak. At least Ukraine is trying to clean up their act while fighting a war for their very survival as a nation.

    • Eopia@feddit.deEnglish
      0·
      1 year ago

      Imho he has valid points regarding Ukraine’s chances of EU membership, in its pre-war state Ukraine was very far from ready. There’s a chance the war will help with reducing corruptions, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

  • Ziggurat@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I might sound like a centrist, but so what. Ukraine has a problem with corruption, stood with nazi during WW2, and might still have problem with neo-nazi today.

    But how is that a reason for a full scale invasion by Russia, especially considering that Russia also has problem with corruption and neo-nazi.

  • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
    0·
    1 year ago

    So, let me turn this around: should the EU be structured so that it is resistant to corruption in member states? I mean, I’m not saying that corruption doesn’t create a problem for Ukraine – it does, and there are people with good reason to go after it. But does it make sense to precondition EU membership on it, if the EU as an institution is resistant to corruption problems in member states? I mean, Ukraine is not the only country with corruption issues; all EU members see some degree of corruption. And being outside the EU creates a number of other problems for Ukraine and probably other countries; now they’re trying to deal with corruption issues concurrently with economic challenges created by not being in the EU.

    Corruption can increase; if a member country starts having increasing problems with corruption, it seems to me that the EU shouldn’t run into problems with that, and the only way it can do that is if it’s resistant to corruption in individual members.

    • Deykun@kbin.social
      01·
      1 year ago

      Yes, the EU should consist of democratic and non-corrupt nations, with being a healthy democracy as the bare minimum requirement. You mentioned corruption in Ukraine as if its level were similar to that in other EU countries, but it isn’t. From my perspective, Ukraine’s Euromaidan was a significant step in the right direction, albeit just one of many needed.

      The European Union already has nations grappling with issues related to the rule of law and democracy. The goal should be to promote these values and expect them from both current member nations and aspiring candidates. To be considered a part of the European Union, countries should embody these values.

      I wish Ukraine and Georgia the best, but it’s not unfounded for people to point out the challenges these states face in those aspects.

  • Night Monkey@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    01·
    1 year ago

    People are obsessed with Ukraine. Getting tiring. No one gave a crap about that corrupt nation just a few years ago. Now I guess the TV told them they’re important so people literally worship them now.