“Without delay”: European Parliament demands that Ukraine be granted candidate status for EU membership

529 votes to 45

MEPs thinkIt is in the European Union’s own interest to increase the number of bloc members. At the same time, they noted that there should be no accelerated path to EU membership: entry into the community can only happen “on merit and after fulfilling the criteria”.

“The Parliament, by 529 votes to 45 and 14 abstentions, on Thursday passed a resolution calling on the heads of state and government, who will hold their summits today and tomorrow, to grant Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova candidate member status to the EU. delay. According to the news on the EU Parliament’s website, they should do the same for Georgia as soon as its government fulfills the conditions set by the European Commission.

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, confirmed that the resolution was passed by an overwhelming majority, immediately after the completion of the vote. Lawmakers reacted to this with a long applause, TASS reported.

According to the agency, this document, like all resolutions of the European Parliament, is advisory only. The final decision on granting EU candidate status to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia will be made at an EU summit on Thursday. After the summit decision, it must be formally approved by the European Parliament.

On 17 June, the European Commission recommended that Ukraine and Moldova be given such a status and that this decision on Georgia be postponed. European Council President Charles Michel expressed his confidence that the EU summit will grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.

Ukraine’s call to erase its debts

Members of the European Parliament thinkHe said granting Kiev the status of an EU candidate “in the context of Russia’s brutal war of aggression” could be “equalized” with “a show of leadership, determination and foresight”. The parliamentarians also decided that the EU “cannot continue its policy of strategic uncertainty” regarding Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, which “have been seeking membership in the bloc for years”.

The parliamentarians noted that the three states have already signed association agreements with the EU, which means they are “significantly ready for the accession process”.

“The European Parliament calls on the cancellation of the Ukrainian debt to support the country in meeting the current urgent costs and facilitate the recovery, as well as the EU and its member states to provide support to meet the humanitarian needs of the Ukrainian population. Ukraine is in the current conditions,” he emphasizes in the resolution.

In addition, the European Parliament’s resolution called on the authorities of the three countries claiming candidate status for accession to “openly demonstrate their political determination to realize the European aspirations of their peoples” by accelerating reforms.

Deputies urged the Council of Europe to “take an important first step towards realizing the legitimate aspirations of Ukrainians”, saying “Ukrainians, Moldovans and Georgians deserve to live in free, democratic and prosperous countries that are proud and devoted members of the European family”. Citizens of these three countries.” .

Deputies confirmed their demands to grant these countries candidate status to the EU, through Russia’s ongoing special operation and the “occupation” of part of Ukraine’s territory. In addition, the parliamentarians recalled that the Russian Federation also “started a war against Georgia in 2008” and then “actually controlled the Georgians” of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia also “has troops in the Transnistria region of Moldova.”

Unlocking the Balkans

In addition, the European Parliament “calls” the EU heads of state and government convened at the summit to “give the green light to the currently blocked enlargement process through the Western Balkans”.

Lawmakers also expressed concern that “focusing on the accession of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia” could “undermine” the Balkan countries’ determination to join the EU. Therefore, according to the parliamentarians, the EU’s enlargement strategy needs to be “significantly revised”.

Lawmakers adopted a resolution Thursday demanding the “immediate grant” of the status of EU membership candidates to Ukraine and Moldova. In addition, they urged EU countries to write off all debts to Kiev to support the country in “meeting the current emergency expenses”.



Source: Gazeta

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