He proposes to Ukraine and Moldova to start negotiations with the European Union, which is a “historic step,” according to Zelensky

The European Commission on Wednesday presented a historic proposal that EU heads of state and government should decide at their summit in December to start formal accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

Enlargement is an important part of European Union policy. Completing our union means listening to the call of history. The previous enlargement has shown tremendous benefits for both the joining countries and the European Union. “We are all winners,” Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference in Brussels.

But heads of state and government are also required to define the negotiating frameworks for Ukraine and Moldova only after the Commission gives the green light in March at the latest on whether the two countries have adopted certain “key measures”.

For Ukraine, it is a matter of implementing the remaining reforms regarding minorities in the country, toughening the work against corruption, and making more efforts to break the power of the oligarchs.

In a widely broadcast speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the European Commission’s decision, according to reports. POLITICO.

– Today, the history of Ukraine and all of Europe has taken a step in the right direction. It’s only positive. He said that despite all the difficulties, we are moving forward, and already in December we expect to receive a political decision from the European Council.

Regarding Georgia, the Commission proposes that the country should now obtain EU candidate state status, and here too it is understood that a number of important steps forward must first be taken.

Growth plan for the Balkans

The European Commission also adopted a new growth plan for the Western Balkans with the aim of strengthening the region by providing EU support in advance, before membership negotiations begin with Albania and Serbia, for example. Among other things, the EU wants to increase economic integration between the EU and candidate countries, accelerate fundamental reforms and increase growth opportunities. To facilitate this process, the financial support provided by the Union to the region is increased by the equivalent of 6 billion euros, including 2 billion loans, in the years 2024-2027.