Iran Press/ Europe: Ukraine has moved a step closer to joining the European Union.
The European Commission on Friday recommended that the war-ravaged country become a candidate to join the bloc — albeit on the understanding that it carries out a number of important reforms.
The opinion from the commission, the executive arm of the EU, comes ahead of high-level discussions in Brussels, Belgium about Ukraine’s potential membership.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine should be welcome as a candidate country — referring to a legal term that means a nation has officially started an accession path to full membership.
“Ukraine has already implemented roughly 70 % of EU rules, norms, and standards,” Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, tweeted, according to AFP.
“Yet important work remains to be done, on the rule of law, oligarchs, anti-corruption, and fundamental rights,” Von der Leyen said.
“The process is merits-based. So progress depends entirely on Ukraine,” the tweet reads.
Russia says the EU is “manipulating” Ukraine with the possibility of membership.
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