"A triumph of European integration" said the Chairman of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the Parliament, Harris Georgiades, granted Ukraine's candidacy for EU membership, in his intervention at a meeting of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Enlargement Policy on the day after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The meeting, which was held by videoconference, was attended by members of national parliaments and the European Parliament and Members of Parliaments of candidate and potential candidate countries for accession to the European Union (EU).
According to a statement by the House of Representatives, after introductory remarks by the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, a debate was held, during which Mr. Georgiades said that the decision to grant candidate country status to Ukraine, which is struggling to defend its sovereignty and independence, is a triumph of European integration, noting that the decisions taken for Moldova and Georgia are highly symbolic.
"These countries deserve and have the right to join the EU, as they demonstrate a real commitment to the principles and values on which the Union is founded," he stressed. Georgiades stressed that, on the contrary, countries that do not respect international law and violate the human rights and sovereignty of their neighbours, which are full members of the EU, should be excluded from the enlargement policy.
Finally, Georgiades sent a message of encouragement to the Western Balkan countries to maintain their commitment to continue their European course and perspective.
Source: CNA
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