On Wednesday 8 November, the European Commission recommended that the Council unconditionally open EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. However, these two countries will have to meet a certain number of criteria before the Commission can recommend that the Council adopt the negotiating frameworks. It will report on both countries’ progress in this area by March 2024.
The European Commission has also proposed that Georgia be granted candidate status for EU membership, “provided that a certain number of measures are taken”.
The European Council on 14 and 15 December will have to take a position of the Commission’s recommendations.
See the communication: https://aeur.eu/f/9fo
Ukraine. Despite the war, “the Ukrainians are profoundly reforming their country”, stressed the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, pointing out that “well over 90%” of the necessary measures requested in June 2022 had been completed (see EUROPE 12974/1). Of the seven criteria, four were fully met.
Speaking to the media, Ms von der Leyen highlighted the progress made in the reform of the constitutional justice system, the selection of the High Council of Justice, the anti-corruption programme, the progress made in the fight against money laundering, the important measures aimed at reducing the hold of the oligarchs over public life, the new media law and the progress made with regard to national minorities.
The Commission will recommend that the Council adopt the negotiating framework once Kyiv has: - carried out two anti-corruption reforms, increasing the staffing ceiling of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and removing the provisions limiting the powers of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption to check the assets acquired by tax filers before they enter the civil service; - improved its record in terms of investigations and convictions for corruption.
According to the Commission, Ukraine must also enact: - a law regulating lobbying in line with European standards as part of the action plan against oligarchs; - a law addressing the remaining recommendations of the Venice Commission on national minorities and on the State language, media and education.
These criteria include the measures requested by the Commission in June 2022, which have not yet been met.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/9g0
Moldova. Ms von der Leyen emphasised the “major reform efforts” undertaken by Moldova, which is the subject of “constant efforts to destabilise its democracy”.
Of the nine criteria set in June 2022, Moldova has fully met five, or “more than 90%” of the efforts required, according to the Commission.
Ms von der Leyen highlighted the progress made in judicial reform, investigations into corruption and organised crime, and legislative changes to combat vested interests.
The Commission sets out three conditions – those listed in 2022 and not yet fully met – in order to be able to recommend that the Council adopt the negotiating framework: - the continued appointment of Supreme Court judges and a new Attorney General; - allocating adequate resources and structures to the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office and improving the record of corruption investigations and convictions; - the adoption of new de-listing measures.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/9g2
Georgia. The Commission is asking Tbilisi to make progress on the twelve priorities identified in June 2022. Of these criteria, only three are fully met.
The Commission puts forward nine conditions for the granting of this status: - alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy; - combating disinformation; - the fight against polarisation; - completing electoral reforms and guaranteeing parliamentary control and the institutional independence of key institutions; - implementation of judicial reforms; - the fight against corruption with effective anti-corruption bodies; - implementation of the deoligarchisation action plan; - implementation of the human rights strategy; - the protection of media freedom and the involvement of civil society.
“The College (of Commissioners) fully supports the genuine aspirations of the overwhelming majority of its citizens to join the EU. These aspirations must be better reflected by the authorities, who should engage more with the opposition and civil society on issues of national interest”, added Ms von der Leyen.
The Commission highlights a number of advances to justify its decision, such as the strengthening of the opposition’s control over parliamentary proceedings, the adoption of an action plan for deoligarchisation and the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/9g5
Satisfaction from the leaders of the three countries
The leaders of the three countries welcomed the recommendations. “This is a strong and historic step, that paves the way to a stronger European Union with Ukraine as a member”, stressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He promised that Ukraine would continue with its reforms and looked forward to the European Council’s decision.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu described the announcement as an “important milestone” for her country, “recognising (Moldova’s) commitment to democracy and development”. “Moldova is firmly committed to EU membership, and we will continue to work tirelessly to achieve this goal”, she promised.
“We’re grateful for the (Commission’s) support and excited to continue our journey towards full-fledged EU membership”, commented Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. He congratulated all Georgian citizens on the “historic victory and recognition” of this day, and said that his country had obtained “a status that the Georgian people deserved”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)