The European Commission has recommended that Ukraine be the official candidate to join the EU, an important step for the former war-torn Soviet republic in what will be a long and arduous road to accession.
The EU executive’s decision marks a new stage in expansion east of Brussels and a major leap forward for Kyiv’s Western integration efforts amid Russia’s invasion of the country.
But it paves the way for what is likely to be a wide-ranging debate at an EU Council summit of the bloc’s 27 leaders next week, which will require the unanimous support of existing member states to formally implement the commission’s recommendation.
Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Friday that following the commission’s recommendation, his country would abandon its previous objections.
Some member states, including Portugal and Belgium, have expressed suspicion of granting candidate status to Ukraine, arguing that it runs the risk of creating false expectations for Kyiv.
Given this status, Ukraine should be allowed to open formal accession talks, which could last more than a decade, as the country works to meet EU standards in a myriad of areas, from the fight against corruption and the rule of law up to trade and migration. .
Ursula von der Leyen, chairwoman of the commission, said on Friday that the EU executive believed that Ukraine should be given status on the condition that it continue to make reforms to bring it into line with EU regulations. These reforms include the rule of law, the fight against corruption and its judicial system.
“Ukraine has clearly demonstrated the country’s aspirations and determination to meet European values and standards,” von der Leyen told reporters.
“Ukraine should be welcomed as a candidate country. “This whole process is based on merit, so it goes through the book.”
A senior commission official described the recommendation as a “morale boost” for Kyiv as war broke out. “And that really matters.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the development was a “historic decision”.
“I applaud the European Commission’s positive conclusion on Ukraine’s candidate status. It is the first step on the path to EU membership that will certainly bring us closer to victory, “Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.” I look forward to a positive outcome from the EU Council next week. “
The commission on Friday also recommended that Moldova be granted candidate status alongside Ukraine, but said Georgia should make further reforms before it can be granted the same status. The three former Soviet states applied to join the EU in the days following the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.
Ukraine’s candidacy to be recognized as a candidate for the EU received a major boost on Thursday with the joint visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi to Kyiv, where the three leaders powerful bloggers endorsed their ambitions.
However, even if the 27 countries were granted candidate status in Ukraine next week, they would face years of negotiations before they have a chance to become a member of the EU.
The newest country to join the EU, Croatia, took nine years to become a member after receiving candidate status in 2004, while Northern Macedonia has been an official candidate country since 2005. Albania , Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey are also candidate countries.
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In documents released on Friday, the commission said Ukraine was “very advanced in achieving the stability of institutions that guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of human rights.” minorities “and that it had” continued its strong macroeconomic history “despite the invasion of Russia.
But he warned that Ukraine’s membership depended on “ambitious structural reforms” to reduce corruption and the influence of the oligarchs.
The country should review the procedure for selecting judges in its supreme court, demonstrate a history of fighting corrupt practices and money laundering, implement “anti-oligarch” laws, and free its means from “created interests.”
The commission said it would report on the progress of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia later this year.
Additional report by Roman Olearchyk in Kyiv