Resolution on the strategic importance of starting EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova

(2023/C 229/05)

THE EURONEST PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY,

1. Condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine, its illegal annexation of Ukrainian regions and its involvement in both military action and cyberwarfare in the Eastern Partnership region;

2. Recognises that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has created a new geopolitical landscape and an increasingly difficult security environment affecting the stability and governance of the Eastern Partnership countries;

3. Underlines that Russia’s war of aggression has fundamentally changed the geopolitical situation in Europe;

4. Welcomes the European Council’s decision of 23 June 2022 to grant Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova EU candidate country status, and its recognition of the European perspective for Georgia;

5. Underlines that accession to the EU must take place in accordance with Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, based on respect for the relevant procedures and conditional upon the fulfilment of the established criteria, in particular the so-called Copenhagen criteria for EU membership; underlines that accession remains a merit-based process that requires the adoption and implementation of the relevant reforms by Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, in particular in the areas of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms, market economy and implementation of the EU  acquis ;

6. Supports the European Parliament’s call for an innovative, complementary and flexible interaction between the ongoing work on the implementation of the Association Agreements already in force and the accession negotiation process, thereby allowing for the gradual integration of Ukraine and Moldova into both the EU single market and the relevant sectoral programmes, including access to EU funds in the respective areas, enabling the citizens of Ukraine and Moldova to reap the benefits of accession throughout the process rather than only on its completion;

7. Calls on Ukraine, Moldova, the Commission and the Council to work towards the start of accession negotiations this year;

8. Similarly to the European Parliament, believes that Ukraine’s and Moldova’s membership of the EU represents a geostrategic investment in a united and strong Europe and that it equates to showing leadership, resolve and vision;

9. Considers the European Parliament recommendation of 23 November 2022 concerning the new EU strategy for enlargement  ( 1 ) to ‘establish clear deadlines for concluding negotiations with the accession countries by the end of the current decade at the latest’ to be of the utmost importance strategically.

( 1 )   Texts adopted, P9_TA(2022)0406.