(AGENPARL) – STRASBURGO mar 21 giugno 2022

B9‑0332/2022

European Parliament resolution on the candidate status of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia

(2022/2716(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia,

– having regard to the Joint Statement of 9 June 2022 of the Political Groups’ Leaders Addressed to the Heads of State and Government of the EU Meeting on 23-24 June 2022,

– having regard to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Copenhagen criteria,

– having regard to the applications for EU membership of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia,

– having regard to the Versailles Declaration of 10 and 11 March 2022,

– having regard to the Commission opinions of 17 June 2022 on the applications for EU membership of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia,

– having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Russian Federation launched an unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022; whereas Ukraine applied for membership of the European Union on 28 February 2022, and the Republic of Moldova and Georgia did so on 3 March 2022;

B. whereas on 17 June 2022, the Commission published its opinions on the membership applications of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, recommending to the Council that all three countries should be given the perspective of becoming Member States of the European Union, and that candidate status should be granted to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova; whereas the Commission recommended granting candidate status to Georgia after the country fulfils certain criteria; whereas the European Council plans to discuss this issue at its meeting of 23 and 24 June 2022;

C. whereas the EU signed Association Agreements and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements with Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia in 2014; whereas these agreements have not yet been fully implemented;

D. whereas the EU must be a reliable partner and a credible geopolitical actor that lives up to its principles and values by showing solidarity with those who stand up for the same ideals; whereas Ukraine is defending the European security order and the principles on which it was built, such as the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris for a New Europe; whereas enlargement should be seen an investment in a strong, stable and united Europe, as well as a transformative process for the countries following the EU path;

E. whereas past developments have shown that non-enlargement has a massive strategic cost and can undermine security and stability on our continent; whereas the membership applications of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia express their peoples’ wish to live in free and democratic countries, firmly anchored in the European family;

1. Calls on the Member States to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, in line with Article 49 of the TEU and as the start of a merit-based process, and to work towards granting the same status to Georgia; welcomes, in this regard, the recommendations contained in the Commission’s opinions of 17 June 2022;

2. Acknowledges the European aspirations of the peoples of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, as well as of the countries of the Western Balkans; reiterates that the long-standing commitment of the EU towards the Western Balkan countries must be maintained;

3. Calls on the Member States to muster the political will to re-energise the enlargement process and deliver on their promises through concrete positive steps in the accession processes of countries that seek to join the Union and deserve to be part of the European family; urges, therefore, the EU heads of state and government meeting on 23 and 24 June 2022 to greenlight the currently blocked process of enlargement to the Western Balkans;

4. Underlines the importance of judging each country on its own merits, and stresses that each country’s progress on the path to accession should be at a rate dependent on its progress in adopting reforms and implementing the EU acquis, with a particular focus on the rule of law conditionality; recalls the need to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria and that EU institutions must strictly follow the principle of conditionality in the enlargement process;

5. Calls on countries who wish to accede to the EU to implement the necessary reforms, in particular in the rule of law, democracy, fundamental freedoms, human rights and the fight against corruption; urges the authorities of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, therefore, to demonstrate their political determination by stepping up their progress by means of substantial reforms that effectively fulfil the criteria for EU membership;

6. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to prepare their internal structures and provide additional resources, as well as increased technical assistance and political support, in order to meaningfully engage with Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia on their path towards EU accession and to promote their integration;

7. Reaffirms the EU’s commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia within their internationally recognised borders, and, also with a view to their eventual EU accession, calls on the Member States and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) to accelerate efforts to support these countries in ending foreign occupation and resolving any remaining territorial disputes;

8. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and the VP/HR to recalibrate the Eastern Partnership in order to avoid fragmentation, allowing it to operate in parallel to accession processes and continue to be meaningful; reiterates the need for regional cooperation and increased integration among Eastern Partnership countries;

9. Stresses that there can be no alternatives to the accession process, as these would risk undermining the EU’s commitment to enlargement and dashing the legitimate aspirations of countries that seek to become Member States of the Union;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the presidents, governments and parliaments of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia.

Fonte/Source: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2022-0332_EN.html