In a video address to the European Parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the efforts of the EU and Ukraine and thanked those who support his country in the face of Russian aggression.
Moldova’s pro-European president, Maia Sandu, has won a second term as president. Moldova, a candidate for European Union membership, is currently in accession negotiations to become a member of the bloc.
In December, EU leaders agreed to open accession negotiations with Ukraine. While the European Commission said in a recent report that the country needed to implement further reforms, the German government has now said that Ukraine has fulfilled these reforms.
Two decades of EU membership are a reason to celebrate. On May 1, 2004, ten Eastern European states joined the bloc – the EU’s biggest enlargement to date. However, amidst the festivities, attention turns to regions like the Western Balkans, who are still on the waiting list for EU accession.
The EU leaders’ decision to initiate negotiation talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) marked a historic moment for the country. Seen as a political move amid shifting geopolitics, particularly after Ukraine was granted candidate status for EU membership, Bosnia still faces many hurdles on its path to EU accession.