MEPs urge European Council to grant Georgia EU candidate status

Members of the European Parliament on Wednesday called on the European Council to grant Georgia the European Union membership candidate status and open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina after taking “certain steps”, in the Council’s meeting to be held on Thursday and Friday.

The resolution, adopted by 468 votes in favour, 99 against and 58 abstentions, stressed the enlargement of the EU has become “even more strategically important, and is one of the strongest geopolitical tools at the EU’s disposal” amid Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The MEPs said the enlargement policy was “a strategic investment in peace and security, as well as a driver for democracy and European values across the continent”.

They also emphasised the need for internal EU reforms in parallel with the enlargement process to enhance the bloc’s capacity to integrate new members effectively and noted the bloc should establish “clear deadlines” for the candidate countries to conclude accession negotiations by the end of this decade.

There should be no fast-track for membership though, [...] the Copenhagen criteria must be fulfilled to ensure that candidate and potential candidate countries demonstrate a consistent and enduring commitment to democracy, rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities, and economic reforms”, the MEPs added.

The European Commission recommended the European Council to grant Georgia the candidate status in early November. The final decision on the country’s candidacy will be announced at the meeting of the Council between Thursday and Friday.