The decision was eagerly awaited.

The European Commission recommended, on Friday June 17, to grant Ukraine the status of candidate to the European Union, declared the President of the European Executive, Ursula von der Leyen, during a press conference.

The same opinion was given for Moldova, while Georgia's candidacy has yet to be "assessed".

"The Commission recommends to the Council, firstly, to give Ukraine a European perspective and, secondly, to grant it candidate status. This, of course, provided that the country carries out a number of important reforms", the official said at a press conference.

"We all know that Ukrainians are ready to die to defend their European aspirations. We want them to live with us, for the European dream", added Ursula von der Leyen.

Moldova also on a "true European path"

As for Moldova, Ursula von der Leyen said that the neighboring nation of Ukraine "is on a real pro-reform, anti-corruption and European path (...). It still has a long way to go. But we think she has the potential to meet the criteria."

Regarding Georgia, which also wishes to apply, Brussels recommended in the first instance "to assess how it fulfills a certain number of conditions before granting it candidate status".

This opinion will be discussed at the European summit on June 23-24 and the leaders of the 27 EU countries will have to give the green light unanimously.

Never has an opinion been given in such a short time on a request for candidacy, an emergency due to the war waged by Russia for more than three months and which is part of the support given by Europeans to Ukraine facing Moscow.

Paris, Berlin and Rome have come out in favor of granting Ukraine this official candidate status "immediately", during a visit to kyiv by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the leader of the Italian government Mario Draghi, joined by the Romanian president.

Ukraine is "ready" to work to become a "full member" of the Union, assured them the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky.

With AFP & Reuters

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