EU expected to start process of Ukraine and Moldova becoming member states – Europe live

Dorin Recean, Moldova’s prime minister, wrote on social media that he “strongly” welcomes the commission decision.

The EU is more than a union. It’s a family we’re determined to join. We will continue the hard work in order to comply w/ conditions & deliver tangible progress.

The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, announced today that the commission recommends that the council open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

The commission also recommends the opening of EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina “once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved”, she said.

And the commission recommends that the council grant Georgia the status of a candidate country on the understanding that certain reforms are made.

Ukraine continues to face tremendous hardship and tragedy provoked by Russia’s war of aggression, and yet the Ukrainians are deeply reforming their country, even as they are fighting a war that is existential for them.

Von der Leyen said Ukraine has completed “well over” 90% of the necessary steps outlined by the commission last year, pointing to judicial reforms and anti-corruption efforts.

The remaining reforms are already on their way, that’s good, and the commission commends these efforts. And on this basis we have recommended today that the council opens accession negotiations.

The commission, she noted, has also recommended that the council adopt a negotiating framework once Ukraine has carried out its reforms.

Ukraine is “anticipating a historic conclusion from the European Union,” Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last night, ahead of today’s publication of the European Commission’s enlargement package.

The Ukrainian leader said “we are already planning our next steps following this report.”

He added:

Our legislative efforts and the strengthening of state institutions. Ukraine has already come a long way toward stronger ties with the European Union. We are fully aware that EU membership relies on a political decision shared by all EU members that want to see a new state join, but it also relies on the candidate state itself and its work to approximate and adapt EU standards and community norms.

Ukraine will join the EU. And we will achieve this, in particular, as a result of our state’s internal transformation that is completely consistent with the interests of our people.

Kosovo’s president, Vjosa Osmani, said today that “as the youngest country in Europe, we have embarked on a journey of a values-based state building and have committed ourselves to securing our rightful place in the international community.”

Kosovo is ready; Kosovo is able, and, most importantly, Kosovo delivers.

Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Russian security council, argued today that Moldova’s leadership is moving toward joining the EU under pressure from the West and contrary to citizens’ preferences, Tass reported.

Moldova risks becoming another victim of western colonial policy, which is carried out openly, brazenly and cynically, in violation of norms international law and the laws of the country, including the constitution.”

The EU is expected to fire the starting gun on the process of Ukraine and Moldova becoming member states, with a report expected to recommend formal negotiations on accession.

Moldova’s deputy prime minister, Nicolae Popescu, said such a move would be a big milestone for his country. “It will be a truly historical achievement and a truly historical chance to make sure that Moldova consolidates its place in the EU,” he said.

Late on Tuesday, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that his country was “preparing our next steps” to join the bloc, including by strengthening its institutions, although he acknowledged that this would require work by Kyiv to “adapt to EU standards”.

“Ukraine will be in the EU,” Zelenskiy said, in his nightly television address.

A 1,200-page report will be published after midday on Wednesday and its recommendations will go to a summit in December for final signoff.

The report will be the first official stocktake of Ukraine and Moldova’s progress in aligning themselves with the EU on judicial governance, corruption, the economy, independence of media and rights for minority communities.

There will also be updates on seven other countries waiting to join the EU, including the Balkan states and Turkey, although its journey towards accession hit a roadblock some years ago.

Read more here.

Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog.

It’s a big day for the continent, as the European Commission prepares to unveil its latest enlargement package – a vast annual report that looks at how aspiring European Union members are performing on indicators ranging from the functioning of democratic institutions to their ability to assume the economic responsibilities of membership.

This year’s package is highly anticipated, as the bloc edges closer to opening accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

Stay tuned for reactions to the European Commission’s assessments and recommendations, and send your comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.