Ukraine should start EU membership talks, Commission says

Ukraine and Moldova should start the process of becoming EU members, the European Commission said Wednesday — but the two countries must do more to speed up their reforms in key areas.

The EU granted Ukraine candidate status last year and the recommendation that it begin formal negotiations on accession paves the way for the country, which is still fighting off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion, to become a member of the bloc.

The next step is for EU leaders to back the Commission’s plan at a summit in Brussels in December.

Kyiv, which has made a priority of joining the EU and NATO, must also tackle the remaining issues — including the treatment of minorities, anti-corruption and taking power away from oligarchs — that it was asked to address before it gets a start date for formal talks to begin.  

The Commission also recommended granting candidate status to Georgia and recommended different actions for six aspiring Western Balkans countries.

This story is being updated.