EU commission backs Ukraine’s membership bid
India Today
The European Union's (EU) commission on Friday recommended that Ukraine should join the 27-nation bloc.
The executive members of the European Union (EU) on Friday gave its recommendation for Ukraine to become an official member of the 27-nation bloc. Ukraine had applied to join the EU just four days after Russian troops entered the country on February 24.
The EU’s recommendation comes a day after four EU leaders - Germany, France, Italy and Romania visited Kyiv and vowed to back Ukraine’s candidacy. The recommendation will be discussed by the leaders of the EU countries at a summit in Brussels next week. The launching of the candidacy process requires unanimous approval from all the EU members.
The commission also gave its recommendation for Ukraine's neighbour, Moldova, to join the EU.
According to a report by Reuters, the EU's executive Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said, “Ukraine has clearly demonstrated the country's aspiration and determination to live up to European values and standards.” She was speaking in a meeting of the College of Commissioners at the EU headquarters in Brussels on Friday.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to Twitter to thank the EU members and said it is the "first step on the EU membership path that’ll certainly bring our victory closer."
I commend the positive @EU_Commission Conclusion on ’s candidate status. It’s the 1st step on the EU membership path that’ll certainly bring our Victory closer. Grateful to @vonderleyen & each EC member for a historic decision. I expect the positive result from #EUCO next week.
