Analysis
EU Values Foresight
Security
Building Civic Resilience: Challenges and Solutions in Central Europe
12 December 2024
6 July 2022
Ukraine was granted candidate status, which exceeded the expectations of Ukrainians four months ago. The granting of the status is not charity.
It was a day of joy in Ukraine, a joy bittered by war. If the decision were negative, it would be a heavy blow to the Ukrainian people who have sacrificed so much. Public opinion within the EU is also favourable to the embattled country, even in the Member States which are usually sceptical of Ukrainian accession.
Before Ukraine and Moldova, the status of membership candidates was already given to Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey.
Ukraine does not have the problems with democracy that Turkey has. Serbia openly ignores EU sanctions and supports Russia in the war, as well as Russia’s hostility towards the West. North Macedonia continues to have unresolved issues with Bulgaria, an EU member state.