European Comission president Ursula von der Leyen, and high representative Josep Borrell Fontelles visited Ukraine on 8 April and met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in show of support following Russia's military invasion. Photo: Christophe Licoppe , Council of the EU

European Comission president Ursula von der Leyen, and high representative Josep Borrell Fontelles visited Ukraine on 8 April and met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in show of support following Russia's military invasion. Photo: Christophe Licoppe , Council of the EU

The European Commission’s official opinion puts Ukraine on track for a lengthy process of becoming an EU member state with Moldova and Georgia also receiving favourable assessments.

Just over three months after Ukraine submitted its application to become a member of the European Union, the Commission has recommended to the Council of the EU that the Eastern European country passes on to the next step. The Council must now agree a negotiating mandate which will be opened on a subject-by-subject basis.

Ukraine’s application was judged favourably by the Commission on the main criteria for membership: a functional market economy, a stable democracy and respect for rule of law, as well as the ability to assume the obligations of an EU membership. The country has demonstrated “a noteworthy resilience with macroeconomic and financial stability, while needing to continue ambitious structural economic reforms” stated the EU executive in an official statement.

Although Ukraine has made progress in the initial stages of its EU candidacy, the process remains lengthy and multifaceted. Croatia, the last country to join the bloc in 2013, became candidate in 2003 with negotiations taking place between 2005 and 2011. During Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s audience with Luxembourg’s parliament, prime minister (DP) expressed the grand duchy’s support for the country to start accession talks but reminded that “there is no accelerated procedure”.

The Commission’s opinion also included a positive assessment of Moldova and Georgia’s candidacies stating they should be given the perspective to become a member of the EU.