In a recent statement, she affirmed her belief in the realistic possibility of Ukraine's accession within this timeframe.
"I have already said in an interview before and I will say it again: I believe that the goal set by President [Charles] Michel—Ukraine's accession to the EU by the end of this decade—is realistic," Ambassador Mathernová stated.
She highlighted Ukraine's unprecedented initiative in seeking EU membership, noting that the country "broke the mold" by submitting its application in the early days of the full-scale war with Russia. According to Mathernová, Ukraine has maintained a pace of progress that surpasses that of other candidate countries, suggesting that this momentum can continue.
However, the ambassador emphasized that EU membership involves more than technical negotiations. "Joining the EU—and this must be realized—is not only a technical process of membership negotiations, which in itself takes time," she added.
Mathernová pointed out the necessity of political ratification by all EU member states, as the admission of a new member requires amendments to the EU treaties. "It must be ratified in the format required by each of the countries of the European Union. And this always takes some time. During the enlargement in 2004, it took about a year and a half," she explained.
Her comments reflect both confidence in Ukraine's ability to meet the EU's accession criteria and an acknowledgment of the procedural steps required for full membership. The ambassador's remarks come at a time when Ukraine continues to pursue closer ties with European institutions amid ongoing challenges.
