LIVE European Commission Report on EU enlargement. The European Commission recommends the opening of accession negotiations for the Republic of Moldova
UPDATE: The European Commission has recommended the opening of accession negotiations for the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the granting of candidate country status to Georgia.
UPDATE 13:33 Ursula von der Leyen: "The Republic of Moldova is not directly affected by the war, but it is the target of constant destabilization efforts directed against its democracy. It bears the consequences of the war, sheltering Ukrainian refugees. The Republic of Moldova is subject to energy blackmail. But like Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova has made important reforms. For example, in the field of justice, where the fight against corruption and organized crime continued. So, for these two countries, the Commission recommends the opening of accession negotiations. There are still measures that must be completed, and the Commission will report on the progress made to the Council in March 2024."
In the case of Ukraine, the Commission recommends that negotiations begin once Kyiv meets the remaining conditions on fighting corruption and strengthening minority protection standards.
In the case of the Republic of Moldova, these conditions refer to the fight against corruption and the improvement of financial regulations.
On Wednesday afternoon, members of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) will hear European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi on the future of the EU's enlargement policy and the state of progress in the countries covered by the enlargement package.
Varhelyi will also present the European Commission's new 6 billion euro growth plan for the Western Balkans. Pending the implementation of EU-related reforms, the plan is intended to help countries in the region pursue their European integration goals.
North Macedonia and Albania officially started EU accession negotiations in 2022, Montenegro in 2012, Serbia in 2014, while negotiations with Turkey are frozen. The European Union granted candidate status to Bosnia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in 2022, setting additional requirements for Georgia to benefit from the same status. Also last year, Kosovo officially submitted an application for EU membership.
At its meeting in December, the European Council would adopt a decision on whether or not to start accession negotiations with Bosnia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
The President of the Commission holds a press conference together with Oliver Varhelyi - European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement. The College of the European Commission met today in the morning. On the agenda was the enlargement of the European Union - the first reports for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine and the new plans for the Western Balkan countries.
The European Union is determined to expand and reform, these were the messages before the college meeting. We will know immediately if we will receive the positive opinion and the recommendation to open negotiations.
