Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia yet to meet EU admission criteria - European Commission

BRUSSELS. June 22 (Interfax) - The European Commission made an interim oral statement regarding the status of compliance with EU admission criteria by Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia at an informal meeting of the General Affairs Council in Stockholm.

European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi briefed reporters on the interim oral statement on the European Commission's analysis of the work done by Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia to prepare for accession to the European Union. The European Commission will release a detailed written report in October to provide information on all candidate states, including six West Balkan countries, he said.

Varhelyi reminded reporters that the Council of the European Union assured Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia of their European prospects a year ago, while Ukraine and Moldova were granted candidate status. Georgia was promised the same status when it fulfilled certain conditions.

A five-point scale exists, which ranges from zero progress to full compliance with the terms, for evaluating the efforts of candidate countries to meet the EU's criteria, he said.

The Council of the European Union set seven priorities for Ukraine, as proposed by the European Commission, and two of them have been met so far. These are the reform of the judiciary and laws on the mass media compliant with EU regulations.

Progress was made in the other fields, but more work needs to be done to protect minorities and fight corruption, money laundering and the influence of oligarchs.

Nine priorities were set for Moldova, and three of them were met. These include the role of civil society, the protection of disadvantaged groups, and the prevention of violence against women and the guarantee of their equality. Moldova made a certain amount of progress in other fields but has yet to reach the target, Varhelyi said.

Georgia met three conditions out of 12, he said. These are equality of men and women and prevention of violence against women, as well as fulfillment of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, and the election of an independent public defender.