Statement by the Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, MEP Witold Jan Waszczykowski
on the European Commission's opinion on Ukraine's application for membership of the EU
Brussels, 17 June 2022: "I welcome the European Commission's official opinion on Ukraine's application for membership of the EU that recommends to the Council that Ukraine should be given the perspective to become a member of the EU and be granted candidate status, while setting out further steps that the country needs to take.
I pay tribute to the Ukrainian authorities for having responded to the EU questionnaire expeditiously but thoroughly and to the Commission for having undertaken a detailed analysis that may pave the way for granting official candidate status by the European Council.
The European Parliament was a front-runner advocating for the grating of candidate status to Ukraine, in line with Article 49 of the Treaty, and on the basis of merit - this remains our clear expectation of the European Council. Ukraine is committed to the ambitious and challenging journey of EU accession and its people have demonstrated exceptional and exemplary courage, resilience, unity and perseverance.
The Commission opinion published today is an important political signal for the Ukrainian authorities, as well as all EU Member States. The European Commission's merit-based recommendations will provide for even further drive and impetus for the Ukrainian authorities to undertake the necessary reforms to fulfil the formal conditions of the accession negotiation framework, even under the duress and exceptional circumstances of the ongoing Russian aggression.
Ukrainians are ready to die for their European perspective as their strategic and civilisational choice. Today's recommendation should give all Ukrainians the hope to live together with us in peace, freedom, democracy and prosperity, as a clear alternative to the senseless loss of human life, tyranny, destruction, economic decline and serfdom on offer by the Russian Federation."
Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP