After Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia apply for EU membership

Europe, News March 4, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Moldova and Georgia, the two ex-Soviet republics initiated their application for the European Union membership on March 3, joining Ukraine in a bid to become EU members. The three applicants are urging the EU to accelerate their membership process amid Russia’s ongoing attack on Ukraine.

Earlier this week on March 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on to the European Union for membership under special procedure as his country faces a full-scale invasion from Russia.

Before making a formal application for an EU membership, Zelenskyy stated “Our goal is to be with all Europeans, and most importantly, to be equal. I’m sure that’s fair. I am sure we deserve it.”

Eight Eastern European countries, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia backed Ukraine’s plea to join the EU through a signed letter that stated, “Ukraine deserves receiving an immediate EU accession perspective.”

Moldova and Georgia have now initiated their application to get EU membership under special circumstances, however, the seems to be very little chance for all three states to join the EU anytime soon.

The EU acceptance status comes after a tedious and years-long process in which the applicant state has to meet strict requirement criteria that are spread on several different factors including economic stability, level of internal corruption, and human rights. After improving these factors, the satisfaction of the EU, a unanimous decision from 27 EU member states is required for the new member to join.

*^{Foreign ministers of Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova: David Zalkaliani, Dmytro Kuleba, Aureliu Ciocoi in Kyiv, Ukraine on May 17, 2021. (Image Credit: Twitter/Dmytro Kuleba)}*

On March 3, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced Georgia’s application to join the EU. He stated, “The application for EU Membership is yet another milestone on the path of European integration of Georgia, it is a stage which turns a new page in our history and continues the effort of our ancestors, which is aimed at the accession of Georgia into a common European family.” Following Georgia mere few hours later, Moldovan President Maia Sandu also told the press that Moldova is signing a request to join the European Union.

The presence of Russian troops and Russian-backed separatist groups is one of the main hurdles that would hinder the EU membership for all three countries. Although Moldova does not share any direct land border with Russia, its breakaway and self-proclaimed independent region of Transnistria boasts an evident Russian influence and houses the largest Russian-speaking population of the country.

Georgia on the other hand shares a 900 kilometers long direct land border with Russia, which includes the two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The breakaway regions came into being after the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008

Ukraine also has Russian-backed separatist regions of its own with Donetsk and Luhansk being the latest addition to the list that already contains Crimea. As the Russian troops continue to invade further into Ukraine on the eighth consecutive day, Moldova and Georgia joined Ukraine and are waiting for a response from the EU on their plea to join the European Union.