Ukraine has received the status of a candidate for the EU
Today, June 23, in Brussels, the 27 member states of the European Union officially supported granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership. ICTV Facts tells about it.
Congratulations to Ukraine and Moldova have already been expressed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who stressed that today is a good day for Europe and called Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia part of the European family.
– This decision strengthens all of us. It strengthens Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia against Russian imperialism. And it strengthens the EU. Because it once again shows the world that we are united and strong in the face of external threats, – the President of the European Commission wrote on Twitter.
Today is a good day for Europe.
Congratulations to President @ZelenskyyUA President @Sandumaiamd and Prime Minister @GharibashviliGe
Your countries are part of our European family.
And today’s historic decision by Leaders confirms that. pic.twitter.com/lAkv8Bq5fs
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 23, 2022
Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel said on Twitter that the decision to grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate status is a crucial step towards EU membership.
For his part, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi sincerely welcomed the decision and called it a unique and historic moment in relations between Ukraine and the European Union. He also thanked Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen for their support.
– Ukraine’s future is in the EU, – the head of state emphasized.
I sincerely welcome the decision of the EU leaders to grant Ukraine candidate status. This is a unique and historic moment. I am grateful to @CharlesMichel, @vonderleyen and the leaders of the European Union for their support. Ukraine’s future is in the EU. https://t.co/o6dJVmTQrn
– Volodymyr Zelenskyy (@ZelenskyyUa) June 23, 2022
At a meeting of EU ambassadors on Monday (June 20th), no one opposed the decision. Also on June 23, the European Parliament approved a resolution granting Ukraine EU candidate status. 529 deputies voted in favor, 45 – against.
Obtaining candidate status means that our country is now one step closer to joining the European Union.
However, according to the European Commission, Ukraine will need to carry out a number of reforms, including in the judiciary and in the fight against corruption, to become a full member of the European community.
In addition, Ukraine is expected to make important changes in strengthening private property rights and the labor market. We must also maintain stable macroeconomic indicators even after the war.
What conditions must Ukraine meet in order not to lose its EU candidate status:
- develop and implement legislation on the selection of judges of the Constitutional Court, in particular the pre-selection process in accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission;
- to complete the integrity check by the Ethics Council of candidates for members of the High Council of Justice and the selection of candidates for the establishment of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine;
- fight corruption at all levels; to appoint a new head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine;
- ensure that anti-money laundering legislation complies with FATF standards; to adopt a comprehensive plan for reforming the entire law enforcement sector of Ukraine;
- adopt an anti-oligarchic law;
- to reform the legislation on national minorities, in accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission;
- adopt a law on mass media, which harmonizes the legislation of Ukraine with the EU Directive on audiovisual media services and gives powers to an independent media regulator.
Other EU candidates
Currently, in addition to Ukraine, there are five candidates for membership in the European Union:
- Albania (received candidacy in 2014, start of negotiations in 2020),
- Northern Macedonia (candidacy in 2005, start of negotiations in 2020),
- Montenegro (candidacy in 2010, start of negotiations in 2012),
- Serbia (candidacy in 2012, start of negotiations in 2014),
- Turkey (candidacy in 1999, start of negotiations in 2005, which were frozen in light of the human rights situation in the country).
Information
The European Union was established by the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, which entered into force the following year. The Union envisaged the creation of a single economic space that would ensure the free movement of goods, services and finances.
In addition to goods, citizens of an EU country who can live in any country of the Union also receive free movement.
The single currency of the European Union is the euro, which is used in 19 EU countries.
A number of industries are subject to common EU standards introduced by Member States, such as food safety, agriculture and labor rights.
At the same time, the poorest regions of the European Union will receive grants for the economic development of EU member states.
It will be recalled that on June 17, the European Commission recommended granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership. The highest executive body of the European Union stated that our state has made significant progress in achieving the stability of institutions that guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.
The idea of granting Ukraine candidate status has been supported by many world politicians, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and others.
Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that his country would support granting Ukraine and Moldova candidate status for membership in the European Union.
