By Peter McLaren-Kennedy • Updated: 17 Jun 2022 • 13:31
EU Commission President von der Leyen addresses the Ukrainian Parliament Source: Shutterstock
Ukraine President Zelesnkyy has welcomed the news that the European Commission is recommending that Ukraine be granted candidate status saying that it will bring the country’s victory against the invading forces one step closer.
Taking to Twitter, Zelenskky said that he appreciated the work that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her team had done and the he looked forward to a positive outcome in the EU Parliament next week.
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. — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 17, 2022
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.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 17, 2022
Original story June 17 12:34 pm
Making the announcement on June 17, Ursula von der Leyen said that after rigorous investigation the Commission had agreed to recommend candidate status for the two countries.
In doing so she said it was on the understanding that both countries will carry out a number of important reforms, although she did not what specify these in any detail.
She said Ukraine has clearly shown commitment to live up to European values and standards and had prior to the invasion by Russia, embarked on the journey to membership of the EU.
According to the Commission Ukraine has already implemented roughly 70 % of the rules, norms and standards. However important work was needed on the rule of law, oligarchs, anti-corruption and fundamental rights.
We recommend to give Ukraine the candidate status, on the understanding that the country will carry out a number of important reforms. Ukraine has clearly shown commitment to live up to European values and standards. And embarked, before the war, on its way towards the EU. pic.twitter.com/Cggme0Ep0l — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 17, 2022
We recommend to give Ukraine the candidate status, on the understanding that the country will carry out a number of important reforms. Ukraine has clearly shown commitment to live up to European values and standards. And embarked, before the war, on its way towards the EU. pic.twitter.com/Cggme0Ep0l
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 17, 2022
The news that the two countries are to be recommended for candidate status will not go down well in Russia, but will help both countries move their programmes of reform forward and in the case of Ukraine give the country something more to fight for.
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Originally from South Africa, Peter is based on the Costa Blanca and is a web reporter for the Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.
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