BREAKING: #Ukraine has just been given EU candidate status
Following the approval of candidacy status, President Zelensky has just dialed in to speak to the 27 EU leaders by video at #EUCO.
He is speaking to them now.
Presidents Macron, Michel & von Der Leyen now on their way to give a press conference.
Watch here: audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/ebs/live/1
The delay in making the Ukraine candidacy decision was apparently about debates over final statement on #Bosnia.
President Michel says the final agreed text promises to “breathe new life” into the country’s accession process. It has still not been given candidate status.
“There can be no better sign of hope for the citizens of Ukraine Moldova & Georgia in these troubled times” says 🇪🇺Commission President @VonDerLeyen. This strengthens them “in the face of 🇷🇺 aggression”
But she notes that they need to do their homework to move forward in process
“Right from the start of the conflict 🇪🇺 has been reacting” with a strong response, says 🇫🇷President @EmmanuelMacron.
“This strong united Europe has been up to the task”
Macron asked about this morning's Western Balkan summit debacle.
"Is it fair to North Macedonia? No. There's been a lot of pressure on Bulgaria in recent months, this is the result of a political crisis in Bulgaria, we can't pretend that's not happening."
#Macron expands on his European Political Community idea:
“We are seeing enlargement fatigue. Countries have been in this process for years and years, it’s terrible. But it’s difficult to carry out these reforms. That’s why I proposed EPC…”
“…OK you can join the EU, but it will take a lot of time. In the mean time we need to think much more quickly how we can stabilise our neighbourhood,” says #Macron.
“Let’s be honest, maybe we won’t always be living together in the same house. But we’ll be on the same street.”
Here is the carefully crafted final wording on #Bosnia #BiH that caused the delay in granting candidacy status to #Ukraine today.
#Croatia & #Slovenia said it was insulting to give candidate status to 🇺🇦🇲🇩 and not 🇧🇦 today.
#EUCO leaders will now discuss Macron’s proposed European Political Union tonight.
So far there hasn’t been any serious objection to the idea, probably because it is so lacking in detail.
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