The Brussels authority recommends granting Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidate countries. However, she points out that there is a great need for reform.
Brussels. Less than four months after their official application, Ukraine and Moldova have reached an important stage on the long road to future EU membership. On Friday, the European Commission formally voted in favor of granting the two countries candidate status. “Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, on Friday when the recommendation was presented. She stressed that in both cases enormous institutional, economic and legal reforms are needed to meet the criteria for EU membership: “Yes, Ukraine deserves EU perspective and candidate status, everything else depends on Ukraine’s development away. And what’s better than shaping your own future?” she added.
On 22 pages, the Commission services summarize the state of affairs in Ukraine. Roughly speaking, the country has taken significant steps in the right direction since the “Revolution of Dignity” at the beginning of 2014, when the people rose up against the regime under then-Moscow-loyal President Viktor Yanukovych because, at the behest of the Kremlin, he refused to sign association and comprehensive free trade agreements with the EU.