On Monday 20 June, several foreign ministers gave their support to granting Ukraine candidate status for EU membership.
On Friday 17 June, the European Commission recommended granting this status to Ukraine and Moldova, subject to conditions, and called for further efforts from Georgia (see EUROPE 12974/1). EU leaders must decide whether to follow the Commission’s recommendations at the summit on 23-24 June.
On his arrival at the EU Council, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said that while he could not anticipate the decision of the EU leaders, he had not heard “anyone opposing” the granting of the status to Ukraine.
After the meeting, Mr Borrell said the European Council should send a “signal for European integration” to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. He said this would send a message not only to these three countries, but would have an echo beyond the borders of the EU, “as a demonstration of the strength of our unity and support for the three countries and especially for the one that is being attacked by Russia”.
“Ukraine deserves it”, said Estonian Andres Sutt, adding that the country had made the necessary progress to obtain this status. His Czech counterpart, Jan Lipavský, recalled that Ukrainians were “literally fighting and dying to become part of European society”.
While some Member States initially seemed reluctant to grant the status, several have since underlined their support. The French and German ministers recalled the position expressed by their leaders during their visit to Kyiv (see EUROPE 12973/20). “As the rotating Presidency of the EU Council, we will work to ensure that Europeans are united in sending a clear and positive message to Ukraine regarding its candidacy”, informed Catherine Colonna, adding that France was in favour of granting candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova immediately.
Dutch minister Wopke Hoekstra stressed that all aspects should be taken into account, “including the very, very complicated geopolitical situation”. He too stressed the importance of unity. “And therefore we believe that the Commission’s balanced proposal will be supported by the Dutch government”.
Continued support for Ukraine
Beyond possible candidate status, the High Representative recalled the EU’s full commitment to continuing its support for Ukraine, including continued pressure on Russia, communication with third countries and military support.
Mr Borrell said that the fourth tranche of the European Peace Facility had not yet been used up.
While in a draft conclusion from 15 June the European Council called for a “further increase in military support under the European Peace Facility”, a version from 20 June is less precise, with the European Council asking the Council “to swiftly work on a further increase of military support” (https://aeur.eu/f/27q ).
The conclusions also elaborate on sanctions, stating that “work will continue on sanctions, including to strengthen implementation and prevent circumvention” and that work on adding the violation of EU restrictive measures to the list of EU crimes should be finalised soon.
Asked about Lithuania’s restriction of transit to the Kaliningrad enclave, Mr Borrell said that Vilnius was implementing EU sanctions against Russia and that these were not national measures. “In accordance with EU sanctions, there are restrictions on the import and export of certain goods, including a ban on transit through EU territory”, he recalled, adding that Lithuania was only implementing the guidelines provided by the Commission. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)