Amid Russia’s invasion since February 24, EU leaders agreed on Thursday to nominate Ukraine to join the world’s largest economic bloc.
The Washington Post reported that the decision gives Ukraine high spirits amid the ongoing war with Russia in the east.
“This is a unique and historic moment in the relations between Ukraine and the European Union,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stressing that “Ukraine’s future lies at the heart of the European Union.”
Ukraine has long called for EU membership, but Russia’s invasion has added a new sense of urgency.
Immediately after the invasion, Zelensky called for the inclusion of Ukraine in particular, an idea that was supported by some member states and strongly opposed by others.
On Thursday, all 27 member states voiced their support for the idea of granting Ukraine candidate status, and the conditions were met at a later date.
The nominee status will be the first step on the “long and difficult road” to Ukraine’s full membership in the bloc, which could take years or even decades, the US newspaper notes.
Moldova was also granted candidate status, while EU leaders said Georgia could only become an official candidate after addressing key priorities.
“It is time to realize that the future of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia lies in the European Union,” wrote Council of Europe President Charles Michel in an invitation to attend.
“Today is a milestone on your path to the European Union,” Michel wrote on Twitter, congratulating Ukrainian President Zelensky and Moldovan President Maya Sando and their people. “We have a future together,” he tweeted.
Georgia, which also has European aspirations, needs to make reforms to achieve this. “Georgia’s future lies in the European Union,” she said.
What happened at the Council of Europe meeting?
European leaders met in Brussels on Thursday for the two-day summit, bringing together all 27 members of the European Union.
“Today is a good day for Europe. This decision strengthens us all. It strengthens Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in the face of Russian imperialism. It also strengthens the European Union,” European Commission President Ursula Von wrote on Twitter. “
An EU official – speaking to the Washington Post on condition of anonymity – said EU leaders had moved “more than 25 years” in the past two weeks.
The European Commission will monitor Ukraine’s progress and report to the Council of Europe. Diplomats say accession talks are not expected to begin until at least the end of the year.
How is the decision formed?
When Zelensky first called for a speedy membership process, he received strong support from the Baltic states and other Eastern European countries – but on the other hand, members were pessimistic.
In private talks, EU diplomats expressed concern about Ukraine’s desire to join the bloc, saying they did not believe the candidate status was an action taken for a country at war.
According to European diplomats, the Netherlands, Denmark and Portugal were particularly skeptical of Ukraine’s accession.
Some European diplomats have also raised the issue of the annexation of a large and relatively poor country, such as Ukraine, which, if formally annexed, could become the fifth largest EU country in terms of population, which may receive a larger share of Europe. Subsidies compared to the rest of the block.
Many member states have questioned what Ukraine’s candidacy for the EU enlargement process would mean in general, especially since other countries, such as Turkey, applied in 1987 and officially remained as candidates.
Serbia, Montenegro, northern Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia have been involved in EU membership talks for years.
Last week, leaders of the EU’s three largest economies – Germany, France and Italy – visited Kyiv and voiced support for Ukraine’s candidacy. The next day, the European Commission recommended that Kyiv be granted candidate status.
What is Russia’s position?
According to the Washington Post, Russia does not want Ukraine to join the European Union.
French President Emmanuel Macron believes that the EU’s agreement with Ukraine and Moldova as candidates for membership in the EU is a very strong signal about Russia.
“We owe all this to the people of Ukraine who are fighting for their values, their sovereignty and their territorial integrity,” Macron said.
After some EU leaders visited Kyiv last week, Russia warned member states to cut off supplies to Europe’s most important natural gas pipeline for two days in a row and raise gas prices.
The Kremlin has falsely claimed that Ukraine is not a real country and wants to force its neighbor into Russian sphere of influence.
The move to membership sends a strong message to Russia that Ukraine is a truly independent country and can choose its future, Vesvolod Chintsev, head of Ukraine’s mission to the European Union, told reporters this week.
Source: Lebanon Debate
