Update: Zelenskyy thanks European Commission for candidate status recommendation

EU Commission President von der Leyen addresses the Ukrainian Parliament

EU Commission President von der Leyen addresses the Ukrainian Parliament Source: Shutterstock

Update: June 17 13:26 pm

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.

 

Original story June 17 12:34 pm

The president of the European Commission has announced that they support and have recommended candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova.

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.

Referring to Moldova she said the country is on a real pro-reform, anti-corruption and European path. Saying the country still has a long way to go, she said the Commission believed it had the potential to live up to the criteria.
 

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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Written by

Peter McLaren-Kennedy

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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