Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia's hopes of becoming members of the European Union gained momentum this week, with the bloc's European affairs ministers discussing their membership options at a meeting in Stockholm, Sweden,
DW reports.
Last year, four months after Russia invaded Ukraine, the EU unanimously agreed to grant Ukraine and neighboring Moldova EU candidacy status. But they said that Georgiastill had to fulfill certain reforms in order to attain the same status.
Jessika Roswall, Sweden's minister for EU affairs shared a similar sentiment regarding Georgia at the meeting in the Swedish capital, but told reporters that it was impressive to see the reform efforts Ukraine and Moldova were making in order to become members of the European Union.
"Despite Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, it has made significant progress. This includes a new bill on the Constitutional Court and the adoption of a new Media Act. I am convinced that the report's content will be used as a guide for further reforms," she said.
"Moldova has also made considerable progress given the social situation and threats from Russia,” she added.
The EU's Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi told reporters in Stockholm that Ukraine was "on track” with its progress and had met "two out of seven conditions” required to become an EU member.
The seven conditions laid out last year include curbing corruption and carrying out widespread judicial reforms.
According to EU media outlet Euractiv, European Commission's enlargement progress update said that Moldova had fully implemented "three out of nine conditions" related to human rights and democracy, while Georgia still had a lot of work to do and had achieved "three out of twelve recommendations" to attain EU candidacy status.
"Moldova has the specific problem that with Transnistria, a part of its national territory is occupied and administered by Russia and this is challenging the country as it seeks to become an EU member," Leigh said.
