Like the Ukraine, the ex-Soviet republics of Georgia and Moldova now want to join the EU. Moldovan President Maia Sandu signed a corresponding motion. According to a statement in the capital Chisinau, she said: “In the current difficult situation, we must act quickly and clearly to ensure a European future, freedom and democracy for our citizens.”
As announced, Georgia also submitted an application on Thursday. “The application for EU membership is another milestone on Georgia’s path to European integration,” Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said, according to civil.ge. “Georgia is a European country. Throughout its long history, our country has always belonged to the European culture and civilization and continues to make a valuable contribution to its protection and development.”
According to Brussels, Ukraine’s application has already reached the EU Council and has been forwarded to the EU Commission. This should now make an initial assessment. This usually takes one to one and a half years, said the EU representative.
Moldova also wants to join
However, the EU Commission is calling for the EU heads of state and government to deal with Ukraine’s request first. That must be debated at the highest political level, said a Commission spokesman. According to information from EU circles, the question will be discussed at the informal summit of the 27 heads of state and government next week in France. Ultimately, it is the EU countries that decide whether to join the European Union.
A few days after the Russian attack on his country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for Ukraine’s “immediate admission” to the EU according to a special procedure. The EU official said member states were divided on joining, with some reluctant. Nevertheless, there could be an impact on the EU’s enlargement policy: “The situation and what happened in Ukraine will create new parameters and have a strong impact on the Union,” he said.
Accession to the Union of currently 27 countries is usually enormously complicated and lengthy. In principle, according to Article 49 of the EU Treaty, any European state can apply for admission, provided that it respects basic EU values such as democracy and the rule of law. In practice, however, EU law must first be transposed into national law. Strict requirements even apply to the start of accession negotiations. There are currently five candidates: Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Turkey. However, their accession negotiations have been going nowhere for more than 20 years.