This opinion will be discussed at the European Summit of June 23 and 24 and the leaders of the twenty-seven EU countries will have to give their green light unanimously.
Le Monde with AFP
The European Commission recommended, Friday, June 17, to the member states to grant Ukraine the status of candidate for the European Union (EU). During a press conference, the president of the European executive, Ursula von der Leyen, said:
“The Commission recommends that the Council, first, give Ukraine a European perspective and, secondly, to grant him the status of candidate. This, of course, provided that the country proceeds to a certain number of reforms important. “
“We all know that Ukrainians are ready to die to defend their European aspirations. We want them to live with us, for the European dream,” added M me von der Leyen. On Twitter, the Ukrainian President, volodymyr Zelensky, praised a ” Historical decision “. “[I am] grateful to Ursula von der Leyen and to each member of the European Commission for a historic decision,” he wrote.
Ukraine “ready” to work to become ” as of right “EU
This opinion will be discussed at the European Summit on June 23 and 24 and the leaders of the twenty-seven EU countries will have to agree unanimously. Never has an opinion have been rendered in such a short time on a candidacy request, an emergency due to the war waged by Russia for more than three months and which is part of the support provided by Europeans to Ukraine Facing Moscow.
Paris, Berlin and Rome have spoken for the “immediate” granting to Ukraine of this official candidate status, Thursday during a visit to kyiv of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, of the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz , and of the Head of Italian government, Mario Draghi, joined by the Romanian president. Ukraine is “ready” to work to become a “automatic member” of the Union, had assured them Mr. Zelensky.
Recommendations on Moldova and Georgia
In addition, the European Commission also recommended to grant Moldova the status of candidate for the EU and to offer Georgia the “perspective” to one day join the twenty-seven.
Moldova “has a solid base to guarantee the stability of its institutions, democracy, the rule of law, human rights” and “progress has been made to ensure a good business climate “But” essential economic reforms remain to be undertaken, “the European executive said in a statement. “Provided that the leaders of the country keep the course [of the ongoing reforms], we believe that the country has the potential to be up to the requirements” of a candidacy, estimated M me von der Leyen in front of the press.
Georgia should however wait to obtain this status as a candidate: the commission “recommends that Georgia is offered the prospect of becoming a member of the European Union”. “The status of candidate should be granted to him once a number of priorities have been dealt with,” said the European executive, saying in particular that “new reforms are necessary to improve the functioning of the market economy” from this country. “It is a huge step forward for Georgia (…) The door is wide open, assured Ursula von der Leyen. It is up to Georgia to accelerate [reforms] and move towards this open door.”