On Thursday 23 June, in plenary session, MEPs adopted a resolution calling on the Heads of State or Government of EU Member States to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova “without delay” (529 votes in favour, 45 against, 14 abstentions).
The resolution also calls for Georgia to be granted candidate status “as soon as its government has fulfilled the priorities” outlined by the European Commission in its opinion published on 17 June (see EUROPE 12974/1).
However, MEPs also stress that the accession process should not be “fast-tracked” and remains a “structured and merit-based” process, dependent on the implementation of reforms.
In this sense, the resolution calls on the governments and administrations of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia to “clearly state their political determination to implement the European ambitions of their people”.
The adoption of the resolution comes as MEPs debated the EU membership of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia on Wednesday 22 June. On that occasion, many MEPs also insisted on not forgetting the accession of the Western Balkan countries.
On this point, the resolution also calls for the enlargement process to be “reinvigorated” and unblocked with regard to the Western Balkans.
The vote comes as Heads of State and Government meet in Brussels on 23 and 24 June for a European Council that will be largely devoted to the issue of granting candidate status to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
See the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/29n (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)