An already historic agreement. The leaders of the 27 on Thursday recognized Ukraine and Moldova as candidates for the European Union, announced the President of the European Council Charles Michel, referring to a “historic moment”, in the midst of the Russian offensive. This decision immediately hailed by Kyiv, taken at a summit of heads of state and government of EU countries in Brussels, marks the start of a long and complex process with a view to membership.
“Today marks a crucial step on your path to the EU,” Charles Michel said on Twitter, congratulating the Ukrainian president. Volodymyr Zelensky and Moldovan President Maïa Sandu, as well as their peoples. “We have a future together,” he said, also tweeting in those countries’ languages.
For Georgia, it’s not for any sequel
Georgia, which also aspires to join the EU, will still have to make reforms to obtain this status. The Twenty-Seven nevertheless recognized in him the “prospect” of one day joining the Union. “Georgia’s future is within theEU “, affirmed Charles Michel.
The leaders followed the Commission’s opinions delivered last week on these three former Soviet republics. This European Council is “historic”, also declared the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz when reaching the top. Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia had submitted their candidature shortly after the outbreak of the war led by Moscow in Ukraine at the end of February. Never has the EU been so quick to grant this status, a new illustration of its solidarity with kyiv and Chisinau.
A fast membership excluded?
Several representatives of the Member States nevertheless warned that the Ukrainians should “have no illusions” about rapid accession. Emmanuel Macron estimated in May that kyiv’s membership would take “decades”. The Commission must make an initial assessment at the end of the year on the reforms requested of the two countries, which concern in particular the fight against corruption and the independence of the judiciary.
The next stage, the opening of official negotiations, will again require the unanimity of the Twenty-Seven. These negotiations are still not open for North Macedonia and Albania, candidates since 2005 and 2014 respectively. The Western Balkan countries also expressed their frustration on Thursday at the slowness of their accession process.