European leaders are expected to decide to grant Ukraine and Moldova EU candidate status and to grant the European perspective of Georgia during their summit on 23 and 24 June, thus following the European Commission’s recommendations (see EUROPE 12974/1). The European Parliament also supports these developments (see other news).
“The future of these countries and their citizens lies within the European Union”, the European Council is expected to stress in its conclusions, according to a draft dated 21 June.
“The recognition of [Ukraine’s] candidate status is a politically powerful moment, and it should be interpreted as encouragement to pursue this process of rapprochement with the EU as well as that of democratisation, modernisation, and Europeanisation”, a European source pointed out on Wednesday, 22 June.
The European Council is expected to invite the European Commission to report to the EU Council on the fulfilment of the conditions specified in its opinions as part of its regular enlargement package. European leaders are expected to inform [delegations], “The Council will decide on further steps once all these conditions are fully met”. By way of reminder, one European diplomat stated, “These conditions are important because they help consolidate the basis on which we start negotiating”. According to him, if the candidacy is granted, it will only take effect after the conditions have been met. “There is no date on that”, he added.
Leaders are also expected to state that they are ready to grant Georgia candidate status “once the priorities specified” in the European Commission’s opinion have been addressed. The opinion highlights 11 areas where progress is needed. However, according to one European diplomat, the discussion on Georgia could be more complicated: certain Member States want the country to be treated “a little differently”.
The European Council is also expected to warn, “The progress of each country towards the European Union will depend on its own merit in meeting the Copenhagen criteria, including the EU’s capacity to absorb new members”.
Support for Ukraine
More broadly, leaders are expected to reiterate their support for Ukraine—be it humanitarian, military, economic, or financial. In particular, they are expected to ask the EU Council to quickly work to further increase military support and ask the European Commission to quickly present its proposals on EU support for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in consultation with international partners, organisations, and experts.
Leaders could also discuss the situation in Kaliningrad—the transit of certain products to the enclave via Lithuania having been halted in accordance with EU sanctions. This blocking has aroused the ire of Moscow, which is threatening Vilnius with reprisals. According to several sources, the subject could be discussed by leaders, especially if the situation becomes strained, and the European Council could adopt conclusions on the matter.
Finally, as is usual in June and December, the European Council is expected to agree to extend the economic sanctions against Russia that were adopted in 2014.
See the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/28j (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and the editorial staff)