> Ukraine has been granted official European Union candidate status, after being endorsed by the bloc’s 27 leaders during a summit in Brussels.
>
> Moldova was also granted candidate status while Georgia was left on the waiting list, pending reforms to ensure the country’s political stability.
>
> “A historic moment,” said European Council President Charles Michel. “Today marks a crucial step on your path towards the EU.”
>
> Michel then congratulated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Moldovan President Maia Sandu and added “our future is together.”
>
> Candidate status is a largely symbolic designation that recognises the selected country is on track to begin the lengthy, complex and often tortuous accession process.
>
> The candidacy doesn’t automatically guarantee the start of negotiations, let alone their conclusion. Over the past decades, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey were granted candidate status, with very limited progress towards becoming members. Turkey received the title back in December 1999.
>
> Despite the symbolism, the status does represent a geopolitical victory for Ukraine, a war-torn country that, until earlier this year, was never considered a serious contender to enter the EU. The move is also seen as a response to Russia’s attempt to reinstate its sphere of influence.
>
> The European Commission has put forward seven key reforms that Ukraine needs to carry out before the end of the year. The list includes the appointment of judges for the Constitutional Court, the fight against corruption and money laundering, the protection of national minorities and the implementation of a law meant to curb the excessive influence of oligarchs in the economy.
>
> The Commission is expected to report back to the European Council by the end of the year about the pace of the reforms undertaken by Ukraine and Moldova, as well as Georgia, who could be granted candidate status at a later stage.
>
> EU leaders will use this report to determine the next step, which could include a more detailed roadmap to open formal negotiations. All major steps in enlargement policy require a unanimous vote of member states.
>
> Accession talks are divided into 35 chapters and grouped into six main clusters: fundamentals; internal markets; competitiveness and inclusive growth; green agenda and sustainable connectivity; resources, agriculture and cohesion; and external relations.
>
> The Commission has already warned that the entire process is merit-based and can be “reversed if the underlying conditions are not met anymore.”
>
> Thursday’s breakthrough was widely expected to happen following a flurry of support over the past days and an outreach campaign by President Zelenskyy.
FREUDE
I don’t get it.
Congratulations to both!
Well, now it all depends on us, either we take the chance or go to hell. it will be very long 5-10 years The main thing is not to lag behind Moldova
Every Journey starts with the first step, delayed though this one may have been. Now to see if this will be, considered in context, a sprint or a marathon.
Ok, nice. The first step: Have peace.
Downvote me as much as you can, but this is definetly not a rational decision by EU, and very unfair towards other countries.
RT on tomorrow’s news: First objective of the special operation in Ukraine has been achieved! All is going according to Lord Putlers masterplan! /s
As Edi Rama said today congratulations but don’t form too much illusions(don’t hope much). We have been waiting for 8 and Macedonia for 17 years for the negotiations starting.
If they get accepted before Türkiye, I will throw pineapple pizza on tourists in Antalya.
I do not know how much this will really help to EU. Both Ukraine and Moldova had never showed some enthusiasm for EU until recently. They should have been given potential candidate status first like Bosnia and Herzegovina that is still much ahead of them in many aspects. This might be symbolic award for them, but we must recognize that they are miles away from being actual EU member.
Good. Now Georgia
Ver nice! It may not mean much from a purely practical point of view, but it’s still a nice symbolic way to show support for Ukraine.
Well deserved Ukraine 🇺🇦. Truly an incredible nation. Keep the reforms going on the path to full membership.
Yay!
Now we just need to fuck up some russkies in order to continue…
Great!
Although this is just a tiny step towards full EU membership, I’m still very happy for the people of Ukraine and Moldova. They deserve all the support. 🇪🇺
Nothing against Ukraine and Moldova, I hope they do all the reforms and join as soon as possible, it’ll be better for the continent as a whole. But today’s meeting was absolutely useless for the western balkans, no visa liberalization for Kosovo, no candidate status for Bosnia and no opening of negotiations for Albania and N.Macedonia. Imo totally unfair especially for us getting blocked by France despite us fulfilling all the requirements and the european parliament recommending liberalization for 4 years now.
Seems like since Macron got into power fulfilling criteria doesn’t really mean it’ll produce any progress towards EU. I hate how a single country can veto the process despite the whole bloc having given approval, fcking hell this is disappointing.
Excellent, just excellent!
“Give up Crimea, Donbas and Luhansk and you get the prospect of EU membership and all the benefits”
There might actually be common ground to end the war after all.
APPREUVED!
Wow! They’ll never join though
Guys, please do not try to compare Ukraine and Moldova to Turkey or any other candidates. Every situation is unique. And if somebody is stuck, it’s most often happening not because of some mean euro bureaucrats, but because of your own government not implementing the necessary reforms, and because of people not pressing the government to implement them.
25 comments
Yay
Congrats! And to Moldova, who also is a candidate
> Ukraine has been granted official European Union candidate status, after being endorsed by the bloc’s 27 leaders during a summit in Brussels.
>
> Moldova was also granted candidate status while Georgia was left on the waiting list, pending reforms to ensure the country’s political stability.
>
> “A historic moment,” said European Council President Charles Michel. “Today marks a crucial step on your path towards the EU.”
>
> Michel then congratulated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Moldovan President Maia Sandu and added “our future is together.”
>
> Candidate status is a largely symbolic designation that recognises the selected country is on track to begin the lengthy, complex and often tortuous accession process.
>
> The candidacy doesn’t automatically guarantee the start of negotiations, let alone their conclusion. Over the past decades, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey were granted candidate status, with very limited progress towards becoming members. Turkey received the title back in December 1999.
>
> Despite the symbolism, the status does represent a geopolitical victory for Ukraine, a war-torn country that, until earlier this year, was never considered a serious contender to enter the EU. The move is also seen as a response to Russia’s attempt to reinstate its sphere of influence.
>
> The European Commission has put forward seven key reforms that Ukraine needs to carry out before the end of the year. The list includes the appointment of judges for the Constitutional Court, the fight against corruption and money laundering, the protection of national minorities and the implementation of a law meant to curb the excessive influence of oligarchs in the economy.
>
> The Commission is expected to report back to the European Council by the end of the year about the pace of the reforms undertaken by Ukraine and Moldova, as well as Georgia, who could be granted candidate status at a later stage.
>
> EU leaders will use this report to determine the next step, which could include a more detailed roadmap to open formal negotiations. All major steps in enlargement policy require a unanimous vote of member states.
>
> Accession talks are divided into 35 chapters and grouped into six main clusters: fundamentals; internal markets; competitiveness and inclusive growth; green agenda and sustainable connectivity; resources, agriculture and cohesion; and external relations.
>
> The Commission has already warned that the entire process is merit-based and can be “reversed if the underlying conditions are not met anymore.”
>
> Thursday’s breakthrough was widely expected to happen following a flurry of support over the past days and an outreach campaign by President Zelenskyy.
FREUDE
I don’t get it.
Congratulations to both!
Well, now it all depends on us, either we take the chance or go to hell. it will be very long 5-10 years The main thing is not to lag behind Moldova
Every Journey starts with the first step, delayed though this one may have been. Now to see if this will be, considered in context, a sprint or a marathon.
Ok, nice. The first step: Have peace.
Downvote me as much as you can, but this is definetly not a rational decision by EU, and very unfair towards other countries.
RT on tomorrow’s news: First objective of the special operation in Ukraine has been achieved! All is going according to Lord Putlers masterplan! /s
As Edi Rama said today congratulations but don’t form too much illusions(don’t hope much). We have been waiting for 8 and Macedonia for 17 years for the negotiations starting.
If they get accepted before Türkiye, I will throw pineapple pizza on tourists in Antalya.
I do not know how much this will really help to EU. Both Ukraine and Moldova had never showed some enthusiasm for EU until recently. They should have been given potential candidate status first like Bosnia and Herzegovina that is still much ahead of them in many aspects. This might be symbolic award for them, but we must recognize that they are miles away from being actual EU member.
Good. Now Georgia
Ver nice! It may not mean much from a purely practical point of view, but it’s still a nice symbolic way to show support for Ukraine.
Well deserved Ukraine 🇺🇦. Truly an incredible nation. Keep the reforms going on the path to full membership.
Yay!
Now we just need to fuck up some russkies in order to continue…
Great!
Although this is just a tiny step towards full EU membership, I’m still very happy for the people of Ukraine and Moldova. They deserve all the support. 🇪🇺
Nothing against Ukraine and Moldova, I hope they do all the reforms and join as soon as possible, it’ll be better for the continent as a whole. But today’s meeting was absolutely useless for the western balkans, no visa liberalization for Kosovo, no candidate status for Bosnia and no opening of negotiations for Albania and N.Macedonia. Imo totally unfair especially for us getting blocked by France despite us fulfilling all the requirements and the european parliament recommending liberalization for 4 years now.
Seems like since Macron got into power fulfilling criteria doesn’t really mean it’ll produce any progress towards EU. I hate how a single country can veto the process despite the whole bloc having given approval, fcking hell this is disappointing.
Excellent, just excellent!
“Give up Crimea, Donbas and Luhansk and you get the prospect of EU membership and all the benefits”
There might actually be common ground to end the war after all.
APPREUVED!
Wow! They’ll never join though
Guys, please do not try to compare Ukraine and Moldova to Turkey or any other candidates. Every situation is unique. And if somebody is stuck, it’s most often happening not because of some mean euro bureaucrats, but because of your own government not implementing the necessary reforms, and because of people not pressing the government to implement them.