European Commission recommends opening EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova – Europe live | European Union

Irakli Garibashvili, Georgia’s prime minister, said the Commission’s recommendation is “well-deserved” and that his country is “grateful” and “excited”.

The country’s foreign minister, Ilia Darchiashvili, wrote on social media:

Congratulations, Georgia! The European Commission has released a positive recommendation on granting our country candidate status. This is a clear recognition of the very intensive work done by Georgia on this important path. Together, we have showcased our strength, unity and commitment to European values. Looking forward to the final decision in December. 🇬🇪🤝🇪🇺

Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European integration, said today’s recommendation is “the result of a huge amount of work” at a time of war.

The European Commission has recommended opening accession negotiations with Moldova. In its report published today, it outlined progress made – but the document also shows that significant work still has to be done.

“On the political criteria, Moldova has continued reform efforts to strengthen democracy and the rule of law despite multiple challenges linked to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” the report noted.

It adds:

Moldova has some level of preparation in the fight against corruption. Some progress has been made and needs to be sustained to remove the many remaining blockages that hinder the reform processes.

There is also significant progress that has yet to be made on economic indicators.

On the economic criteria, Moldova is in between an early stage and some level of preparation in establishing a functioning market economy. The authorities have remained committed to pursuing macroeconomic stability and economic reforms in a difficult economic and social environment caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

And on foreign policy, some progress has been made.

On external relations, Moldova is moderately prepared in the area of external relations where it made some progress during the reporting period. In the area of common, foreign, security and defence policy, the country is in between moderate and good level of preparation.

Neighbourhood has to choose where they want to go, von der Leyen emphasises

Lisa O’Carroll

“The neighbourhood, our neighbourhood has to choose where they want to go,” the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said in her press conference.

“And the western Balkans, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine chose very clearly where they want to go,” she added.

If you look into the report and you see the list of reforms, it shows determination, the steadfastness and the political will of the population the people.

On Moldova, she said:

I’m very confident that Moldova will move on because your track record is impressive under very difficult circumstances.

Lisa O’Carroll

Asked why there are conditions set on negotiations opening with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ursula von der Leyen denied it was in effect resisting accession.

“We open the door very wide. We invite Bosnia and Herzogovina to go through the door.”

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, noted that “Moldova is the subject of constant destabilisation efforts against its democracy. It also suffers the consequences of the war in Ukraine.”

Moldova, she stressed, has “undertaken significant reform efforts”.

The commission chief said, however, that “there are some remaining measures that have to be finished” and the council “could then finalise the negotiating framework and the commission will report on the progress to council in March 2024”.

Dorin Recean, Moldova’s prime minister, wrote on social media that he “strongly” welcomed the commission decision.

The EU is more than a union. It’s a family we’re determined to join. We will continue the hard work in order to comply w/ conditions & deliver tangible progress.

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, announced today that the commission recommends that the council open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

The commission also recommends the opening of EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina “once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved”, she said.

And the commission recommends that the council grant Georgia the status of a candidate country on the understanding that certain reforms are made.

Ukraine continues to face tremendous hardship and tragedy provoked by Russia’s war of aggression, and yet the Ukrainians are deeply reforming their country, even as they are fighting a war that is existential for them.

Von der Leyen said Ukraine has completed “well over” 90% of the necessary steps outlined by the commission last year, pointing to judicial reforms and anti-corruption efforts.

The remaining reforms are already on their way, that’s good, and the commission commends these efforts. And on this basis we have recommended today that the council opens accession negotiations.

The commission, she noted, has also recommended that the council adopt a negotiating framework once Ukraine has carried out its reforms.

Kosovo’s president, Vjosa Osmani, said today that “as the youngest country in Europe, we have embarked on a journey of a values-based state building and have committed ourselves to securing our rightful place in the international community”.

Kosovo is ready; Kosovo is able, and, most importantly, Kosovo delivers.

Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Russian security council, argued today that Moldova’s leadership was moving toward joining the EU under pressure from the west and contrary to citizens’ preferences, Tass reported.

Moldova risks becoming another victim of western colonial policy, which is carried out openly, brazenly and cynically, in violation of norms international law and the laws of the country, including the constitution.”

EU expected to start process of Ukraine and Moldova becoming member states

Lisa O’Carroll

The EU is expected to fire the starting gun on the process of Ukraine and Moldova becoming member states, with a report expected to recommend formal negotiations on accession.

Moldova’s deputy prime minister, Nicolae Popescu, said such a move would be a big milestone for his country. “It will be a truly historical achievement and a truly historical chance to make sure that Moldova consolidates its place in the EU,” he said.

Late on Tuesday, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that his country was “preparing our next steps” to join the bloc, including by strengthening its institutions, although he acknowledged that this would require work by Kyiv to “adapt to EU standards”.

“Ukraine will be in the EU,” Zelenskiy said, in his nightly television address.

A 1,200-page report will be published after midday on Wednesday and its recommendations will go to a summit in December for final signoff.

The report will be the first official stocktake of Ukraine and Moldova’s progress in aligning themselves with the EU on judicial governance, corruption, the economy, independence of media and rights for minority communities.

There will also be updates on seven other countries waiting to join the EU, including the Balkan states and Turkey, although its journey towards accession hit a roadblock some years ago.

Read more here.

Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog.

It is a big day for the continent, as the European Commission prepares to unveil its latest enlargement package – a vast annual report that looks at how aspiring European Union members are performing on indicators ranging from the functioning of democratic institutions to their ability to assume the economic responsibilities of membership.

This year’s package is highly anticipated, as the bloc edges closer to opening accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

Stay tuned for reactions to the European Commission’s assessments and recommendations, and send your comments to [email protected].