European Union accepts Ukraine as candidate to join 27-nation club

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The European Union on Thursday accepted Ukraine as a candidate to join the 27-nation club. 
• Ukraine applied for E.U. membership days after Russia launched an invasion on Feb. 24.
• E.U. candidate status doesn’t mean Ukraine can immediately join the bloc as gaining membership could take years.

The European Union on Thursday accepted Ukraine as a candidate for membership in the 27-nation bloc. The war-torn nation applied for E.U. membership less than a week after Russia invaded on Feb. 24.

The E.U. leaders’ decision to grant Ukraine candidate status was rather fast but the ongoing war and Ukraine’s request for expedited consideration lent urgency to its cause.

Moldova, which borders Ukraine, was also granted candidate status by the union.

Becoming an E.U. member could take years since nations must meet a detailed host of economic and political conditions. That includes a commitment to the rule of law and other democratic principles.

“It will strengthen Ukraine, it will strengthen Europe. It is a decision for freedom and democracy and puts us on the right side of history,” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said Thursday.

The parliament passed a resolution, urging countries to “move without delay” and “live up to their historical responsibility.”

E.U. members have been united in supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion by providing money and weapons. E.U. nations also adopted unprecedented economic sanctions against Russia.

However, gaining an E.U. candidate status doesn’t give a country an automatic right to join the bloc. Additionally, it does not offer any immediate guarantee of security.

When a country becomes a member, other E.U. nations are obliged to provide assistance to it by all means possible if it will become a victim of armed aggression. The rule is covered under an E.U. treaty clause.

The main benefits of gaining E.U. membership are economic since the bloc gives access to a market of 450 million consumers with free movement of labor, goods, services and capital.

Ukraine has also requested to join NATO but the military organization is not about to offer an invitation, partly because of alleged corruption in the government, shortcomings in its defense establishment, and its contested borders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO.

Earlier this month, however, Putin did not seem concerned by Ukraine’s request to be part of the E.U., stating it is not a military pact and thus “we have no objections.”

Source: Reuters