The European Commission gave the green light on Wednesday to the opening of EU accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine, a gesture eagerly awaited by this country at war for almost two years with Russia. “Today is a historic day,” declared Ursula von der Leyen, announcing to the press this favorable opinion, which will be submitted to the decision of the Twenty-Seven at a summit in mid-December in Brussels.
“Ukrainians deserve it”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the “good” decision taken by the Commission. “Our state must be in the EU. Ukrainians deserve it,” he stressed. His Prime Minister Denys Chmygal, for his part, pledged to make Ukraine an “equal” and “strong” member of the EU. In June 2022, the EU granted candidate status to Ukraine, in a highly symbolic gesture, a few months after the start of the Russian invasion, as well as to neighboring Moldova.
To move on to the next stage, therefore the opening of accession negotiations, the European Commission had defined seven reference criteria for kyiv. These are conditions to be met, particularly in terms of the fight against widespread corruption and judicial reforms.
“Ukraine continues to face enormous difficulties and the tragedy caused by Russia’s war of aggression,” stressed Ursula von der Leyen, adding that despite these difficulties, Ukraine had continued to reform itself “in depth” with a view to joining the EU. Ukraine was impatiently awaiting this green light from Brussels at a time when its counter-offensive is stalling and the conflict between Israel and Hamas is diverting the attention of its allies.
EU enlargement towards the East considered fundamental for security in Europe
But this favorable opinion from Brussels is still far from being the end of the road for Ukraine, and for the other candidate countries affected by this report on the enlargement of the European Commission, made public on Wednesday. If the 27 endorse the Commission’s opinion in December, Ukraine will then join a list of other European countries that have entered into negotiations with the EU, some of which, like Turkey, have been waiting for many years. Negotiations between the EU and Ankara were opened in 2005 – but frozen since 2018.
The expansion of the European family towards the East is nevertheless considered by several countries as a fundamental element of security in Europe in the face of Russian appetites. Moldova, a small Romanian-speaking country among the poorest in Europe which regularly denounces attempts to destabilize Russia, also obtained a favorable opinion for the opening of accession negotiations from the Commission. This country “has undertaken significant reforms despite constant efforts aimed at destabilizing its democracy”, underlined Ursula von der Leyen.
Georgia, partly occupied by the Russian army since 2008, has not been forgotten and obtained, under conditions, the status of candidate country for membership, which it had been refused in 2022. “I am delighted with the Georgian people and I welcome the positive recommendation of the European Commission”, immediately reacted the pro-Western Georgian President, Salomé Zourabichvili. Tbilisi will, however, have to undertake “important reforms”, corresponding to the “aspirations of the overwhelming majority of its citizens to join the EU”, warned Ursula von der Leyen.
A difficult process for candidates
Finally, the European Commission also made a gesture towards Bosnia, a candidate country for membership, by showing itself in favor of opening accession negotiations with this Balkan country, still deeply divided, once that some progress will have been made. “We have opened the door wide”, but results are now expected, underlined the President of the European Commission.
>> READ ALSO – The EU must be ready to integrate new members “by 2030”, says Charles Michel
Whatever the decision of the 27, the process for all will be arduous. A possible entry into the EU of Ukraine, a country of more than 40 million inhabitants, will pose many difficulties, starting with financing. The EU will also have to reform itself to be able to work with more countries, believe several member states, including France and Germany. And it will absolutely be necessary to do it at the same time as this new enlargement, warned the President of the European Commission in September.