EU Ministers Call for Progress in Ukraine and Moldova Accession Bids
Ukraine Accorded EU Candidate Status; Moldova Granted Perspective
Four EU Member Countries Advocate for EU Membership Status for Ukraine
In a joint statement, foreign ministers from Germany, France, Italy, and Romania expressed unwavering support for Ukraine's pursuit of European Union membership. The ministers urged the European Commission and EU member states to "rapidly finalize the screening process" and initiate membership negotiations.
The statement comes as Ukraine continues to defend its territory against the ongoing Russian invasion. In February 2022, Ukraine formally applied for EU membership, and in June 2022, the European Council granted Ukraine candidate status.
In addition to the four countries that issued the joint statement, several other EU member states have also expressed support for Ukraine's accession. These include Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The European Parliament has also backed Ukraine's membership bid.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has recommended that Moldova be granted EU candidate status. The decision is expected to be formalized by the European Council in June 2023. Moldova, like Ukraine, has expressed a strong desire to join the European Union.
However, not all EU member states are in favor of granting Ukraine and Moldova accelerated accession to the bloc. Some countries, including the Netherlands and Denmark, have raised concerns about the potential impact on the EU's decision-making process and the need to maintain rigorous membership standards.
Despite these concerns, the support for Ukraine's and Moldova's EU membership bids remains strong among many EU member states. The upcoming negotiations are expected to be complex and lengthy, but the latest developments suggest that the two countries are on the path to eventual EU membership.
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