The European Commission on Wednesday recommended that the bloc open accession negotiations with Ukraine, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that it also grant EU candidate country status to the former Soviet republic of Georgia.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European Council head Charles Michel. PAP/EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
'I welcome the decision of the European Commission': Polish president
Polish President Andrzej Duda said in a social media post: "EU enlargement is one of the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council in 2025. That is why I welcome the decision of the European Commission which recommends the start of accession negotiations with Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as granting Georgia the status of EU candidate."
Duda added: "Poland has been active in supporting the aspirations of these states for EU membership for a long time."
Polish foreign ministry sends congratulations
The Polish foreign ministry tweeted: "In recognition of a series of reforms, the European Commission recommended today to start accession talks with Ukraine and Molodova. The European Commission also opened the option of talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Congratulations and we hope for a positive decision from EU leaders in December."
The Polish foreign ministry added: "The recommendation of candidate status for Georgia is also welcomed. This is a good time to implement reforms. We need to maintain the high momentum of expansion towards the Eastern Trio and the Western Balkan countries."
Top EU officials on Wednesday adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package, providing a “detailed assessment of the state of play and the progress made by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia on their respective paths towards accession to the European Union," Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The bloc’s leaders are expected to decide whether to approve the recommendation by the EU executive at a summit in December.
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Source: IAR, PAP