21 Apr 2022 13:54

European Commission to decide whether Ukraine qualifies for EU candidate status by late June - Michel

KYIV. April 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The European Commission will decide whether Ukraine qualifies for the EU candidate status by late June, and the Council of the European Union will be then able to begin relevant debates, European Council President Charles Michel said.

As Michel said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Wednesday, the European Commission will present its opinion by the end of June and it would be his responsibility to decide when he could put the item on the agenda of the Council of the European Union in order to begin a political discussion, a dialogue, and to make progress on this path. He also said he felt very strong support, which showed they would be able to back Ukraine in its path to a future in the EU.

Ukraine "demonstrates every day that it is fully committed to democratic principles and freedoms," Michel said.

"You are fighting not just for the future of Ukrainian children, but for the fundamental values of Europe," he said.