The leaders of the EU’s 27 member states met on Thursday in Brussels to discuss a potential EU membership for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
On Thursday evening, President Charles Michel of the European Council announced that Ukraine and Moldova have been granted candidate countries.
– The EU summit has just decided to give candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. A historic moment. Today marks an important step on their way to the EU.
– OVERALL: Supporters of Ukrainian EU membership had gathered outside the EU summit in Brussels. Photo: Olivier Matthys / AP / NTB
–
– Unique and historical
Michel congratulates the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyj and the President of Moldova Maia Sandu, as well as the people of both countries.
Zelensky is grateful for the decision taken by EU leaders.
– It is a unique and historic moment in the relationship between Ukraine and the EU, he writes on Twitter.
The president says he is grateful to EU leaders Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen for the leadership they have shown.
– Ukraine’s future is with the EU.
Zelensky’s chief of staff says Ukraine will do everything it can to quickly implement reforms that will make it possible to start negotiations on EU membership, writes Reuters.
– EU: President Emmanuel Macron of France, President Charles Michel of the European Council and President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission meet with the press following the decision. Photo: Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP / NTB
–
– Will require a lot of work
Moldova’s President Maia Sandu says it is a historic day for the EU to give her country her candidate status.
– We have a difficult road ahead of us, which will require a lot of work and effort.
In a post on Facebook, she says EU membership will mean more welfare, more opportunities and more order in Moldova.
Georgia has to wait
Georgia also wants to become one of the EU’s candidate countries, but did not receive this status from the union this time around.
The country, on the other hand, was given “a European perspective”. This means that the country must first meet several conditions before they can be granted candidate status to become a member.
The EU summit acknowledges the work Georgia has done and states that the country will receive candidate status when certain issues are resolved.
– Congratulations to the Georgian people, says Charles Michel.
Long way to go
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen writes on Twitter that it is a big day, but emphasizes that a lot of work needs to be done in Ukraine and Moldova.
If the dream is to become a reality, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia will have to implement a number of changes and reforms, with a strong focus on the fight against corruption.
– CANDIDATE COUNTRY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference in Kyiv earlier in June. Photo: Natacha Pisarenko / AP / NTB
–
Continues Friday
The summit in Brussels takes place over two days and on Friday the discussions will continue. The meeting will then discuss the economic consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The last few weeks have been marked by the latest sanctions package against the warring country, much of which was aimed at Russian oil and gas exports.
However, the package did not address the blockade of grain exports out of Ukrainian ports, which several fear could lead to a global food crisis.
–
