Ukraine and Moldova should start the process of becoming EU members, the European Commission said Wednesday — but the two countries must do more to speed up their reforms in key areas.
The EU granted Ukraine candidate status last year and the recommendation that it begin formal negotiations on accession paves the way for the country, which is still fighting off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion, to become a member of the bloc.
Kyiv, which has made a priority of joining the EU and NATO, must also tackle the remaining issues — including the treatment of minorities, anti-corruption and taking power away from oligarchs — that it was asked to address before it gets a start date for formal talks to begin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the Commission’s decision in a video address to the nation.
Despite all the difficulties, we are moving forward, and already in December, we expect a political decision from the European Council,” he said.
Ukrainians deserve this for their protection of European values and the fact that even during a full-scale war, we keep our word by developing state institutions.
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