The future of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia and of their citizens lies within the European Union, European Council published the press release after today’s session.

In the document, the Council is reportedly scheduled to return to the issue in spring 2023 once it receives updated information from the European Commission.

“The Council recalls the historic importance of the decision of the European Council of 23 June 2022 to recognise the European perspective and grant the status of candidate country to Ukraine and Moldova. The European Council likewise recognised the European perspective of Georgia and confirmed its readiness to grant the country candidate status once the priorities specified in the Commission’s opinion on its membership application have been addressed. The future of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia and of their citizens lies within the European Union,” the document reads.

European Council acknowledges important steps made by Georgia in its reform process, as highlighted in the 7th EU-Georgia Association Council in September 2022.

“The Council encourages Georgia to continue on its reform path and to fully address the priorities specified in the Commission’s opinion on its membership application in order to be granted candidate status. The Council puts emphasis on further deepening of the EU´s sectoral cooperation with Georgia, on the basis of enhanced implementation of the Georgia-EU Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA),” the document notes.