EU: Historic green light in Ukraine-Moldova – Becoming candidate countries

LAST UPDATE: 22.58

In granting the status of candidate country for accession to European Union in Ukraine and in Moldova The 27 leaders of the bloc member countries agreed, as the President of the European Council officially announced in a message on Twitter Charles Michel.

More specifically, Mr. Michel, from Brussels where the Summit takes place, wrote:

“Agreement. The European Council has just decided to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. A historic moment. Today marks a pivotal step on your path to the EU. “Moldova. Our future is together.”

Agreement. #EUCO has just decided EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.

A historic moment.

Today marks a crucial step on your path towards the EU.

Congratulations @ZelenskyyUa and @sandumaiamd and the people of Ukraine 🇺🇦 and 🇲🇩

Our future is together.

– Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) June 23, 2022

The President of the European Council published the same message in the Ukrainian language.

Welcome! #EUCO щойно ухвалила рішення про надання сатусу фотографии до ЄС Україні та Молдові.

Іstoryй moment!

Сьогодні – віховий крок на вашому шляху до ЄС.

Вітаю @ZelenskyyUa і @sandumaiamdand also the peoples of Ukraine and Moldova

Наше майбутнє – разом! pic.twitter.com/Mp6v8zMtWa

– Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) June 23, 2022

A little later, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky responded with his own message to the same media, noting:

“I sincerely welcome the decision of the European Council to grant Ukraine candidate status. It is a unique and historic moment in Ukraine-EU relations. I am grateful to Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, as well as to the leaders of the countries. “Ukraine’s future is within the EU.”

Sincerely commend EU leaders’ decision at #EUCO to grant candidate a candidate status. It’s a unique and historical moment in 🇺🇦-🇪🇺 relations. Grateful to @CharlesMichel, @vonderleyen and EU leaders for support. Ukraine’s future is within the EU. #EmbraceUkraine https://t.co/o6dJVmTQrn

– Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 23, 2022

According to the Politico website, the decision is a huge moral boost for Ukraine, which has been at war for four months since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Russia.

European officials acknowledge that before the war it was almost impossible for the process of granting the status of a country to join the Union to proceed at such a speed.

In terms of Agriculture“The European Council has decided to recognize Georgia ‘s European perspective and is ready to grant candidate status as soon as the outstanding priorities are taken into account,” he said.

Congratulations to the Georgian people. A historic moment in EU-Georgia relations: Georgia’s future lies within the EU. ”

Von der Layen: A historic decision

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, speaks of a “historic decision” after the agreement of the “27” EU leaders to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova and to support the European perspective of Georgia.

“Today is a good day for Europe.

Congratulations to President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. Your countries are part of our European family. “Today’s historic decision by the leaders confirms this,” Ursula von der Layen said in a Twitter post.

“I am very pleased with the support of our opinions from the leaders. Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, they all have work to do before moving on to the next stage of the process. I know they will move quickly. They know how crucial this is for their democracies, their economies.” “They and their citizens. This decision strengthens us all.”

The President of the Commission notes that the decision “strengthens Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in the face of Russian imperialism. And strengthens the EU because it shows once again to the world that we are united and strong in the face of external threats.” .

Macron: This is a political choice

Welcoming what he called a “historic decision” to grant Ukraine and Moldova accession status, French President Emmanuel Macron said “we owe all this to the Ukrainian people”, adding that the accession process would be “demanding”.

He even acknowledged that the decision was linked to the wider context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. “It was a political choice, I fully recognize that.”

President of Moldova: We have a difficult road ahead of us

Moldovan President Maia Santou welcomed tonight the “historic” decision of the “27” of the European Union to grant the country the status of candidate for EU membership, emphasizing that “we have a difficult road ahead, which requires a lot of work and effort.”

In a Facebook post, President Santo said that Moldova’s accession to the European Union would bring prosperity, more opportunities and security to the small country between Ukraine and Romania.

Georgia: We will work resolutely to obtain country status for membership

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili assured tonight that her country is determined to take the necessary steps to gain EU candidate status, which has not yet been granted by the EU-27, calling for more reforms.

“We are ready to work resolutely in the coming months to gain candidate status (for EU membership),” President Zurabishvili said in a Twitter message after European Union leaders acknowledged Georgia’s “prospect” of joining. in the future within the Union.