The European Union, which has been gradually expanding since 1973, currently has nine candidate countries in its lobby. Among them are Ukraine and Moldova, for which 27 decided to start accession negotiations on Thursday, a process that takes many years. Georgia has been granted candidate status, and President Salome Zurabishvili on Thursday expressed her joy at the “huge milestone” her country has reached, AFP reported.

Nine candidate countries in the hallway of the EU

On June 23, 2022, twenty-seven granted Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova the status of a candidate country for the EU, starting a long and complex process of accession. 27 opened actual accession negotiations on Thursday.

Georgia, like Ukraine and Moldova, submitted its candidacy shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, an approach that Moscow took extremely negatively. After initially rejecting 2022, Brussels granted it candidate status on Thursday.

Bosnia, in turn, received this status on December 15, 2022. Four other countries in the Western Balkans are official candidates but have been stuck in the EU’s anteroom for years: North Macedonia (2005), Montenegro (2010), Serbia (2012). ) and Albania (2014).

Against the backdrop of tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to the enlargement process for the Western Balkans in October 2023 at a summit in Tirana. But the 2030 date, which has been mentioned several times, is not rigid, warned Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.

Turkey, a candidate since 1999, began accession talks in 2005 but has been frozen since 2018. Relations with the EU have deteriorated significantly since 2016, in particular due to President Erdogan’s relentless crackdown following the coup attempt. Some countries, such as Austria, are calling for an official end to the process.

Potential candidates for membership

Another former republic of the Federation of Yugoslavia, Kosovo, applied for candidate status in December 2022.

In 2009, the EU also launched the Eastern Partnership with Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Belarus, offering closer economic and political relations in exchange for reforms.

But Belarus, an ally of Moscow, suspended its participation in June 2021.

Long and difficult negotiations

The express review of Kyiv’s candidacy was of unprecedented speed, an urgency due to the war being waged by Russia and which is part of the support the Europeans are offering Ukraine.

But membership comes after a complicated process that usually takes several years. If Finland was united in less than four years, the three Baltic countries had to wait almost nine years.

Once candidate status is recognized, the opening of formal negotiations must also be unanimously approved. Hungary stood by Ukraine on Thursday, its prime minister said.

Negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia began only in July 2022. As for Ukraine, a summit is planned for December on the 27th.

At each stage of the negotiations, which cover different topics (free movement, justice, freedom, security, customs union, taxation, agriculture, environment, etc.), a unanimous vote of the European Council (of the member states) is also required.

Obtaining the status of a candidate country for joining the EU is a “big milestone” for Georgia

The pro-Western president of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, on Thursday welcomed the “huge step” taken by her country, which has just received the status of a candidate country for joining the European Union.

“This day marks a huge milestone for Georgia and our European family,” she wrote on social networks.

“The unshakable will of the Georgian people was expressed,” the head of the Caucasian state assessed.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, announced that the EU will grant Georgia the status of a candidate country and start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on the first day of the summit of the leaders of the 27 member states.

These countries applied to join the EU shortly after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, seeing it as an important deterrent against Moscow.

Of particular concern is Georgia, a former Soviet republic that was invaded by Russian forces in 2008.

In June 2022, the EU granted candidate status only to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, and asked Georgia to implement judicial and electoral reforms, more freedom for the press and less power for oligarchs.

In November, the European Commission recommended that EU leaders grant Georgia the status of an official candidate, on the condition that the government in Tbilisi undertakes to carry out reforms.

Access to the European Union is enshrined in the constitution of Georgia and is supported, according to polls, by about 80% of its population.