European Union (EU) leaders proposed on Wednesday, the 8th of November, to start negotiations on Ukraine’s EU membership as soon as it meets the remaining preconditions, bringing the country closer to its important strategic goal despite the difficulties caused by the Russian invasion, reports Reuters.
The EC said that negotiations should formally start as soon as Ukraine meets the remaining conditions related to fighting corruption, adopting a lobbying law in line with EU standards and strengthening measures to protect national minorities.
“This is an important and historic step that paves the way for a stronger EU with Ukraine as a member”, Zelenskyy said on social media, pledging to implement the necessary reforms.
The final decision will be taken by EU leaders in December and requires unanimity of all 27 Member States, with Hungary seen as the main potential obstacle.
If EU officials back the proposal, formal accession negotiations with Ukraine could start next year.
Despite the challenges posed by Russian aggression, Ukraine remains committed to reforms, EC President Ursula von der Leyen said, adding that the Commission would “reassess progress in March next year”, as per Reuters.
Another historic step for the citizens of ???????? regarding their ?? aspirations.
We’ve adopted our 2023 Enlargement Package recommending to open negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, to grant candidate status to Georgia, and to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and… pic.twitter.com/Ipr61YHFSz
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) November 8, 2023
The Commission made a similar recommendation to Moldova, which is struggling with strained relations with Russia, and Moldovan President Maia Sandu, while welcoming the move, assured that Moldova would continue to work hard to implement reforms.
The EC has recommended that Georgia be granted candidate status for EU membership as soon as it meets the remaining conditions, such as compliance with EU foreign policy sanctions, including those related to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
The Commission said the EU should also open membership negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina “as soon as the necessary compliance with the membership criteria has been achieved”, as stated by Reuters.
According to Reuters, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put EU enlargement back at the top of the EU’s political agenda. The process has strong economic and geopolitical significance, said Ursula von der Leyen, as history shows that it has brought “enormous benefits both to the accession countries and to the EU”.
Read also: Ursula von der Leyen: EU to invest six billion euros to support Western Balkans’ integration reforms
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