European Parliament supports granting EU candidate status to Ukraine

“With 529 votes to 45 and 14 abstentions, Parliament adopted on Thursday a resolution calling on the Heads of State or Government – who hold their summit today and tomorrow – to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova ‘without delay’,” reads the press release of the European Parliament.

MEPs also call on EU leaders to grant Georgia the same status “once its government has delivered on the priorities indicated by the European Commission.”

“Ukrainians, Moldovans and Georgians deserve to live in free, democratic and prosperous countries that are proud and committed members of the European family,” MEPs state.

The European Parliament invites the authorities of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia to “unambiguously demonstrate their political determination to implement the European ambitions of their people”, accelerating reforms in order to effectively fulfil the criteria for EU membership as soon as possible.

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada Chair Ruslan Stefanchuk thanked the European Parliament for adopting a resolution on granting EU candidate status to Ukraine.

“Once again, European Parliament demonstrates its unwavering support for Ukraine’s EU aspirations. Thank you, Roberta Metsola, for adopting the relevant symbolic resolution today. Ukraine is EU country. And we fight for this right not only on the battlefield but also in the legal sphere,” Stefanchuk posted on Facebook.

As reported, on June 17, the European Commission published its opinion on Ukraine’s, Moldova’s, and Georgia’s applications for EU membership. According to the document, which will be considered by the European Council at its meeting in Brussels on June 23-24, the European Commission recommended granting EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova with a list of tasks to be performed. At this stage, only a European perspective is recommended for Georgia, which in itself is a recognition of the country’s clear path to European integration.

The European Council is to give its final approval of Ukraine’s status.