Resolution on the candidate status of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia
The European Parliament adopted by 529 votes to 45, with 14 abstentions, a resolution on the candidate status of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR groups and Members.
As a reminder, Russia has been carrying out an unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine since 24 February 2022. Ukraine applied for accession to the European Union on 28 February 2022 and Moldova and Georgia did so on 3 March 2022.
The people of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have for years consistently demonstrated unwavering support for the European course of their countries, embracing European principles and values however there is no ‘fast-track’ for EU membership. Accession to the EU must take place in accordance with Article 49 TEU, based on respect for the relevant procedures and conditional upon the fulfilment of the established criteria, in particular the so-called Copenhagen criteria for EU membership, and remains a merit-based process that requires adoption and implementation of relevant reforms, notably in the areas of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, a market economy and implementation of the EU acquis.
Parliament welcomed the Commission’s formal recommendation to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine, Moldova and a European perspective for Georgia. It called for Georgia to be granted candidate status once its government has delivered on the indicated priorities in the Commission’s opinion. The granting of candidate status equates to showing leadership, resolve and vision in today’s context of the brutal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and sends a clear political message that the countries in question have irreversibly chosen a European path, which has been accepted by their European partners, and should not be the subject of interference from any third parties.
The resolution urged the EU Heads of State and Government meeting on 23 and 24 June 2022 to green-light the Western Balkans enlargement process, which is currently blocked. Parliament recalled that in order to retain the credibility of the EU enlargement process and unlock its transformative power, the long-standing commitment towards the Western Balkan countries must be maintained and their parallel track needs to continue unaffected with more dynamism on the basis of merit, political alignment, solidarity in international matters and agreed commitments.
Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia are urged to unambiguously demonstrate their political determination to implement the European ambitions of their people by significantly enhancing progress with substantial reforms in order to effectively fulfil the criteria for EU membership as soon as possible.
The Commission and the Council are called on to establish enhanced and structured political dialogue with candidate and potential candidate countries in order to advance further economic integration and legislative harmonisation as well as gradual inclusion in the work and proceedings of the EU institutions, where appropriate.
Lastly, Parliament reaffirmed its commitment to enlargement, to which there is no alternative and which is more than ever a geostrategic investment in a stable, strong and united EU. The prospect of full EU membership for the countries striving to become Member States of the EU is in the Union’s own political, economic and security interests;