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Ukraine and Moldova fast-tracked to become candidates to join EU

Fun VLOG June 23, 2022
epa10029276 Protesters demonstrate in front of the European Council to demand the accession of Ukraine in the EU, on the sidelines of an EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium, 23 June 2022. The European Council meeting on 23 and 24 June will discuss, among other topics, the EU membership application from Ukraine. EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ
Protesters demonstrate outside the European Council demanding the accession of Ukraine in the EU (Picture: EPA)

The European Union has agreed to give Ukraine a chance to join, in a move which could pull the nation further from Russia’s grip.

The embattled country applies for EU membership less than a week after Vladimir Putin launched his invasion on February 24.

The decision by the leaders of the 27-nation bloc to grant candidate status today was uncharacteristically rapid for the EU.

But the war and Ukraine’s request to be fast-tracked persuaded government heads meeting in Brussels to get a move on.

The EU also granted candidate status to Moldova, which borders Ukraine. Despite the significance of the move, actually gaining membership could still take years or even decades.

Countries must meet a detailed host of economic and political conditions, including a commitment to the rule of law and other democratic principles.

Ukraine will have to curb government corruption and adopt other reforms if it wants to join.

epa10029294 A protester demonstrates in front of the European Council to demand the accession of Ukraine in the EU, on the sidelines of an EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium, 23 June 2022. The European Council meeting on 23 and 24 June will discuss, among other topics, the EU membership application from Ukraine. EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ
Ukraine applied to join the bloc less than a week after Vladimir Putin invaded (Picture: EPA)
People hold a giant flag as they attend a Pro-EU march in support of the country's membership in the European Union ahead of Brussels' decision on Georgia's candidate status, in downtown Tbilisi, on June 20, 2022. - Tens of thousands of Georgians took to the streets June 20, 2022 in support of the country's membership to the European Union, days after the European Commission recommended deferring Tbilisi's candidacy. EU leaders are expected to decide by June 24 on granting candidate status to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, which applied for EU membership shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine on February 24. (Photo by Vano SHLAMOV / AFP) (Photo by VANO SHLAMOV/AFP via Getty Images)
Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the decision as ‘a unique and historical moment’ (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

The war-torn nation’s leader, President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the decision as ‘a unique and historical moment’.

He has spent the past few months trying to strengthen ties with the EU while calling for further support against Russia’s aggression.

For the EU, the move will not be without its risk. After all, there’s a war going on in Ukraine.

Meanwhile Moldova’s conflict over Russian-backed breakaway region of Transnistria has been in a stalemate since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

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