The European Commission adopted the 2023 Enlargement Agenda, highlighting progress towards EU accession, with Ukraine and Moldova receiving positive proposals. Ukraine has completed 90% of the reforms expected by the EU, while Moldova has seen good prospects despite constant hybrid attacks. Ukraine has made significant progress in constitutional justice, anti-corruption, money laundering, oligarch curbing, public life, media law, and national minorities law. The Commission has proposed initiating accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and suggests that negotiation frameworks be accepted once crucial actions are adopted. The Commission is prepared to report on these progress by March 2024.
The Commission also emphasised the importance of enlargement, recommending Georgia as a candidate country after several steps are taken. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the Commission’s recommendation to start membership negotiations with Ukraine, stating that Ukrainians are part of the common European family and should be in the EU. However, the process of getting EU membership can take decades, and Ukraine’s accession could be blocked by countries like Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. Additionally, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia’s access to the EU may be influenced by the occupied territories by Russian proxy forces.
CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE NEWS
Ukraine Edges Towards EU Membership
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