Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has welcomed the European Commission’s recommendation to open formal EU membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova.
“The decisions are in line with what we expected, that is that Ukraine and Moldova will be given the opportunity to open accession negotiations, while Georgia has been granted candidate status,” Nausėda told reporters on Wednesday.
The EC has lauded Ukraine, saying its government “has shown a remarkable level of institutional strength, determination, and ability to function.”
But it also said that talks should only start once Kyiv has addressed corruption, lobbying concerns, and a law on national minorities.
“Yes, certain reservations mean that not all the homework has been done, but they are certainly not the reservations that would make the process impossible,” Nausėda said.
“Let’s admit that the time factor is also very important, especially for Ukraine, which is fighting for its freedom and for which such positive impulses immensely strengthen its spirit, its willingness to continue fighting and resisting the invader,” the president added.
According to him, the EC’s recommendation is “a solid basis” for the negotiations at the EU Council in December.
“I hope that the countries that consistently support the accelerated rapprochement of the Eastern Partnership countries to the EU will convince those countries that may still be sceptical,” he said.
In June 2022, the EU leaders granted the EU membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. At the same time, they awarded the “European perspective” rather than a formal candidate status to Georgia, which implied that the country would have to take certain steps before it could gain candidate status.
Now Georgia was told it should officially be named as a candidate country once it addresses shortcomings, including in the fight against corruption and election deficiencies.
Kyiv, Chisinau, and Tbilisi applied to join the EU after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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