Xinhua
24 Jun 2022, 01:48 GMT+10
BRUSSELS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) leaders have accepted Ukraine and Moldova as candidates for membership of the bloc, European Council President Charles Michel said on Thursday.
"Agreement. #EUCO has just decided EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. A historic moment," Michel announced on Twitter. EUCO is short for the European Council, which is currently being attended by EU leaders in Brussels.
The heads of state and government of the EU member states approved the European Commission's recommendation at the start of their two-day summit in Brussels from Thursday to Friday.
Ukraine applied for EU membership shortly after the conflict with Russia began in the end of February.
The country handed its application on Feb. 28. Moldova applied for EU membership on March 3.
Georgia applied for the EU membership on the same day with Moldova, but the European Commission said earlier last week that Georgia's application would be re-examined at a later stage when further reforms will have been made.
The EU candidate countries would need to meet accession conditions to be able to join the bloc, including on issues relating to justice, anti-corruption mechanisms and rule of law, among others, according to EU's criteria.
Michel also said that the EU leaders had also "decided to recognize the European perspective of Georgia," adding that the council was "ready to grant candidate status once the outstanding priorities are addressed."
"A historic moment in EU-Georgia relations: Georgia's future lies within the EU," he wrote.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the decision as "a unique and historical moment in Ukraine-EU," as he thanked EU leaders for their support.
Get a daily dose of Europe Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Europe Sun.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: A former New York City Fire Department chief has been sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison for...
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio: Norfolk Southern wants two other companies to help pay for the $600 million settlement it agreed to after a major...
BISHOP, California: A fast-growing wildfire in California's Eastern Sierra region has burned 1,000 acres and forced people to leave...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A U.S. passenger plane getting ready to take off and a military jet coming in were told to change course to avoid...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Radio Free Asia, a key voice in press freedom across the continent for nearly three decades, is now warning it may...
BROOKLYN PARK, Minnesota: At least one person died when a small plane crashed into a house in a Minneapolis suburb on Saturday, a city...
LONDON, U.K.: Virgin Atlantic is seeing signs of cooling demand from U.S. travelers heading to the UK, a shift that comes after a strong...
NEW YORK, New York - The rout in U.,S. and global stock markets continued and even heightened on Friday, as investors around the world...
WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES: The U.S. government is intensifying scrutiny of corporate diversity policies, with Disney and ABC now under...
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania: New, cheaper nuclear power is on the way, and U.S. states are competing to build and supply the next generation...
TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan's leadership was on high alert ahead of the U.S. tariff announcement, with President Lai Ching-te convening...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Gold surged past US$3,100 an ounce on March 31, extending a record-breaking rally fueled by global uncertainty and...