On Wednesday, the European Commission presents for the first time its assessment of reforms in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, which received the status of a candidate for joining the European Union in June 2022, reports Agerpres.

Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova are EU candidates from 2022Photo: Shutterstock

Every year, the executive power of the community adopts a series of documents that determine the way forward and the evaluation of reforms carried out in candidate countries and potential candidates for accession.

In addition to Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey, Wednesday’s package includes for the first time the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, two new candidates for EU membership, as well as Georgia, a potential candidate country.

On Wednesday afternoon, members of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) will hear from the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Oliver Vargeia, on the future of the EU’s enlargement policy and the state of progress in the enlargement countries. .

Vargei will also present the European Commission’s new 6 billion euro growth plan for the Western Balkans. Before the implementation of reforms related to the EU, the plan is designed to help the countries of this region achieve their goals of European integration.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently visited the six countries covered by the plan: Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, to present details to the respective governments and parliaments.

North Macedonia and Albania officially started negotiations on joining the EU in 2022, Montenegro in 2012, Serbia in 2014, while negotiations with Turkey are frozen.

In 2022, the European Union granted candidate status to Bosnia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, setting additional requirements for Georgia to receive the same status. Also last year, Kosovo officially applied for EU membership.

At the December meeting, the European Council will decide whether or not to start negotiations on the accession of Bosnia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine.

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