“A historic moment, a symbol of hope and a beacon for Russia.” Ukraine and Moldova invited to EU

Heads of state and government of the European Union decided to ensure Ukraine and Moldova are candidate countries to join the community. This was announced on Thursday, June 23, by Charles Michel, president of the European Council, congratulating the leaders of these two countries.

“The agreement. The European Council has decided to grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate status for EU membership. Historic moment. Today, a decisive step is taken on the road to the EU. Our future is together,” he tweeted.

to comment Brussels’ decision, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described it as “a unique and historic moment in relations between Ukraine and the EU”.

“I sincerely welcome the decision of EU leaders to grant candidate status to Ukraine,” he said in a Twitter post.

President Maia Sandu also described this day as historic for Moldova. “We are on the way to an EU that will bring more prosperity, more opportunity and more order to Moldovans in their country. We have a difficult road ahead of us that requires a lot of effort and effort, and that we are ready to walk together to provide a better future for our citizens.

Moldova has a future in the European Union!” “KP”.

Regarding Georgia, the European Council “decided to recognize Georgia’s European perspective and is ready to grant candidate status as soon as the remaining priorities are resolved,” Charles Michel said.

“Congratulations to the Georgian people. It is a historic moment in relations between the EU and Georgia: Georgia’s future is linked to the EU,” he said.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said that Tbilisi is ready to work towards obtaining the status of candidate member of the European Union.

“Homework”

In response, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, noted that the authorities of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia need to work hard and make important reforms to move forward on the path to EU accession.

He also described today’s decision as “a historic decision that gave these states a European perspective” and “a moment of deep satisfaction”.

“There can be no greater symbol of hope for the peoples of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in these troubled times. Of course, their governments have a lot of work to do to move forward on this path, but I am confident that they will work as quickly and actively as possible to implement the necessary reforms,” ​​he said, following the results of the first meeting of the EU summit conference.

Granting EU membership candidate status to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia is a political decision and a “signal” for Russia, highlighted French President Emmanuel Macron.

The EU summit will be held in Brussels on 23-24 June. Last week, the European Commission recommended granting candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. According to Robert Metsol, President of the European Parliament, for Kyiv this decision will be a “symbol of hope” to preserve the spirit of Ukrainians, there are still “many steps to be taken” for a real entry. TASS.

How are Kyiv, Chisinau and Tbilisi going to the EU?

Already in the early 1990s, the Ukrainian leadership declared that it considered European integration to be a priority aspect of the country’s foreign policy. Already in the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of July 2, 1993 “On the main directions of the domestic and foreign policy of Ukraine”, the priority of the European vector and the desire to enter the EU were confirmed.

In February 2019, the Verkhovna Rada legally determined the path of joining the European Union in the Constitution of Ukraine.

Kyiv formally applied for EU membership on February 28, 2022. On 1 March, the European Parliament recommended that Ukraine be granted EU candidate state status.

In response, Moldova filed a corresponding application on March 4. On April 11, Chisinau received the answers from the EU necessary to grant the status of candidates to join the European Union.

Moldova is an associate member of the EU – the signing ceremony of the association agreement took place almost eight years ago on 27 June 2014. On July 1, 2016, the document entered into force.

The former president of the republic, Igor Dodon, announced his intention to terminate the agreement with the European Union at the end of 2016, but was unable to do so and was not re-elected last year. head of state for a second term. He is currently under house arrest for treason.

Georgia applied for EU membership on 3 March. Country officials had previously signed a partnership agreement with the European Union. Tbilisi participates in programs such as the European Neighborhood Policy and Eurocontrol and has a visa-free regime with the EU since 28 March 2017.