Renew Europe urges the European Council to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, and to continue working towards granting the same status to Georgia

The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament welcomes today's historic announcement by the European Commission to recommend that the European Council next week should grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and Republic of Moldova, following their applications to become members of the European Union. At the same time we call on the EU to continue working towards granting the same status to Georgia.

Our political group, which has been strongly advocating for this decision to be made, urges the European Council to follow the Commission's recommendation and avoid any further delays. The process must be based on merit, reaffirming EU’s commitment to enlargement, which is more than ever a geostrategic investment in a strong, stable and united Europe.

Renew Europe has also pushed for a resolution on EU candidate status of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia to be debated and voted next week, during European Parliament's mini plenary session in Brussels.

Renew Europe MEP, Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuanian Liberal Movement), shadow rapporteur on Ukraine, said:

"A positive assessment by the Comission is the right and inevitable decision, underlining the EU's openness and values based policy. We welcome this decision and commit ourselves to continue to develop a mutually beneficial partnership for the sake of all Europeans."

MEP Dragoş Tudorache (REPER, Romania), Renew Europe Group’s Vice-Chair and the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Moldova, added:

“There is no better way to fight external threats than through unity, solidarity and building on democratic projects that have our values at the core. The European project was born out of the need to avoid war on the continent and to work towards prosperity. Today the European Commission has lived up to the expectation and reaffirmed the raison d'être of the EU. Congratulations to the strong and inspired leaders of Ukraine and Moldova who made this happen. My deepest admiration to their citizens who fought for democracy, even at the expense of their lives. It will not happen overnight, but Ukraine and Moldova are on track to become EU member states.”