Ukraine has taken a further step towards membership of the European Union (EU). Through its President, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission officially recommended the opening of negotiations to this effect, on Wednesday November 8, with Ukraine but also with Moldova.
“Today is a historic day,” von der Leyen said. In June 2022, the EU granted candidate status to Ukraine, in a highly symbolic gesture a few months after the start of the Russian invasion, as well as to neighboring Moldova. The opening of formal negotiations is the next step before possible accession. The Commission’s favorable opinion must now be approved or not by the twenty-seven member countries at their next summit, on December 14 and 15 in Brussels.
“Ukraine continues to face enormous difficulties and the tragedy caused by Russia’s war of aggression,” said Ursula von der Leyen, stressing that despite these difficulties Ukraine had continued to reform “in depth” with a view to its accession to the EU. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday welcomed “the good” decision of the European Commission. “Our state must be in the EU. Ukrainians deserve it,” Zelensky said in a video posted on Telegram.
Gestures for Georgia and Bosnia
Moldova, a small country among the poorest in Europe, which regularly denounces attempts at destabilization on the part of Moscow, has for its part undertaken “significant reforms”, the President of the European Commission further welcomed.
The latter also announced that it had recommended granting Georgia, a country partly occupied by Russia since 2008, official candidate status for entry into the EU. “Today is a day of celebration in Georgia,” said Ms. von der Leyen, who nevertheless stressed that this country still needs to undertake “important reforms”, corresponding to the “aspirations of the overwhelming majority of its citizens to join the EU”. An announcement that the pro-Western Georgian president, Salomé Zourabichvili, immediately “rejoiced” about.
Finally, the European Commission also made a gesture towards Bosnia, a candidate country for membership, by showing itself in favor of opening accession negotiations with this still deeply divided Balkan country, once some progress will have been made. “We have opened the door wide,” but results are now expected, Ms. von der Leyen stressed.
