Instability in eastern front brought the membership applications filled by Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia up of the EU agenda. In March, EU leaders affirmed that “Ukraine belongs to the European family”. However, should it consider granting three countries a candidate status?
Commission President von der Leyen was the one pushing the EU to grant them a formal candidate status. Nevertheless, reaching the unanimous agreement would be another challenge. Furthermore, obtaining a candidate status may not mean the immediate negotiations of accession, but it may raise false expectations of quick membership. “Potential candidate” status is another possibility (at the moment held by Kosovo and Bosnia Herzegovina) along with the closer integration without the EU membership framework
Controversial approaches of the 27 varying from east to west may cause disagreement on the matter