EU opens accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) called the decision "a strong sign of support and a perspective for Ukraine", as he also wrote on X. Ukraine and Moldova were "part of the European family".
EU circles reported that the Hungarian head of government Viktor Orban had given up his blockade. However, this was only possible thanks to a face-saving trick, according to consistent sources: Orban was not in the room when the text was adopted. The procedure had been agreed with him.
Orban himself distanced himself from the summit agreement. In a video published on Facebook, he spoke of a "completely senseless, irrational and wrong decision". He had abstained from voting.
With the exception of Hungary, all member states had supported the opening of accession negotiations at the start of the summit. The decision required consensus among the member states. Orban had decided not to use his veto, said Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden spoke of an "exceptional" approach, which was justified due to its geostrategic importance, but should not become the rule.
According to Michel, Georgia now has the status of a candidate country. The member states also want to start accession talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina as soon as the country meets the conditions. The EU Commission is to present a report on this in March. Michel spoke of a "clear signal of hope" for the inhabitants of these countries and for the European continent.
Moldova's President Maia Sandu welcomed the vote. "Today we feel the warm embrace of Europe," she explained. However, there is still hard work ahead for her country. Georgia's President Salome Zurabishvili spoke of a "monumental milestone" for her country. Like Ukraine and Moldova, the former Soviet republic of Georgia applied to join the EU in February 2022, shortly after the Russian attack on Ukraine.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the "strategic decision". She explained that the member states were thus making history.
Negotiations on a 50 billion euro aid package for Ukraine continued at the summit in the evening. On his arrival in Brussels, Orban had announced that the economic aid was not being rushed. There was also haggling over a multi-billion euro increase in the EU budget framework until 2027. The funds are earmarked for external border protection and migration agreements with third countries, among other things.
Selensky had urgently warned the EU against a failure of the summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin would acknowledge this with a "satisfied smile", he said in a video call with the Europeans.
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- Despite Hungary's initial opposition, all other EU member states supported the opening of accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova.
- Viktor Orban, the Hungarian head of government, distanced himself from the EU's decision to open accession talks, calling it "completely senseless" in a Facebook video.
- Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, praised the EU's decision as a "strong sign of support" for Ukraine, even writing about it on his social media platform.
- The Hungarian blockade was reportedly lifted thanks to a face-saving trick, allowing Orban to abstain from voting instead of using his veto.
- According to EU circles, Orban was not in the room when the text was adopted, although he had agreed to the procedure beforehand.
- The EU also plans to open accession talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina once the country meets the required conditions, as outlined in a report to be presented in March by the EU Commission.7.座巨多西乙國的公共總統馬雅·沙 ру宣称，在ɪɟ青聯國的支持下，今天西乙國感受到了歐洲的温暖擁抱。
- Despite Hungary's opposition, all EU member states, including Neighboring country, supported the opening of accession talks for both Ukraine and Moldova at the summit meeting.
- The EU's decision to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova was met with praise from European leaders, including Charles Michel, who spoke of a "clear signal of hope" for the inhabitants of these countries and the European continent.
- The decision to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova was a significant step for these countries, with Georgia also seeking EU membership in the wake of the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022.
Source: www.stern.de
