{"id":111248,"date":"2022-06-27T10:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-06-27T08:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=111248"},"modified":"2022-06-27T10:42:45","modified_gmt":"2022-06-27T08:42:45","slug":"european-council-grants-eu-candidate-country-status-to-ukraine-and-moldova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/european-council-grants-eu-candidate-country-status-to-ukraine-and-moldova\/","title":{"rendered":"European Council grants EU candidate country status to Ukraine and Moldova"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"European<\/a><\/h3>\n

Wider Europe<\/h3>\n

The European Council held a strategic discussion on \u2018Wider Europe\u2019, concerning the\u00a0EU’s relations with its partners in Europe<\/strong>. In this context, EU leaders also discussed\u00a0a proposal to launch a European political community<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The discussion was guided by the questions \u2018what, who and how?\u2019. The aim of \u2018Wider Europe\u2019 is to offer\u00a0a platform for political coordination\u00a0<\/strong>to countries in Europe with which the\u00a0EU has close relations<\/strong>. This will help foster cooperation and address issues of common interest to\u00a0strengthen security, stability and prosperity in Europe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Such a framework\u00a0would not replace existing EU policies and instruments<\/strong>, including EU enlargement, and will fully respect the EU\u2019s decision-making autonomy.<\/p>\n

EU leaders will return to this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

EU-Wide Survey: In face of Ukraine war, Citizens close ranks in support of EU<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Russia\u2019<\/strong>s aggression against Ukraine<\/h3>\n

The European Council reiterated that it\u00a0stands firmly with Ukraine<\/strong>\u00a0and that the EU will continue to provide strong support for Ukraine\u2019s overall economic, military, social and financial resilience, including humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n

Safety of civilians and war crimes<\/h4>\n

EU leaders resolutely\u00a0condemned Russia\u2019s indiscriminate attacks against civilians<\/strong>\u00a0and civilian infrastructure, and reiterated that international humanitarian law must be respected.<\/p>\n

Leaders stressed that Ukrainians, notably children, who have been forcibly removed to Russia, must immediately be allowed to return safely.<\/p>\n

They underlined that Russia, Belarus and all\u00a0those responsible for war crimes<\/strong>\u00a0and the other most serious crimes\u00a0will be held to account<\/strong>\u00a0for their actions in accordance with international law.<\/p>\n

Sanctions against Russia<\/h4>\n

The European Council said that the\u00a0work on sanctions will continue<\/strong>, including efforts to strengthen implementation and prevent circumvention.<\/p>\n

EU heads of state or government\u00a0called on all countries to align with EU sanctions<\/strong>, in particular countries that are candidates for EU membership. They also stressed that work on the Council decision\u00a0adding the violation of restrictive measures to the list of EU crimes<\/strong>\u00a0should be swiftly finalised.<\/p>\n

Solidarity with Ukraine<\/h4>\n

EU leaders highlighted that the EU remains strongly committed to providing further military support to\u00a0help Ukraine exercise its inherent right of self-defence\u00a0<\/strong>against Russian aggression and defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.<\/p>\n

To this end, they called on the Council to swiftly work on a\u00a0further increase of military support<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The European Council noted that the European Commission would soon present a proposal to grant Ukraine\u00a0new exceptional macro-financial assistance<\/strong>\u00a0of up to \u20ac9 billion<\/strong>\u00a0in 2022.<\/p>\n

EU heads of state and government\u00a0called on the Commission to swiftly present its\u00a0proposals on EU support for the reconstruction<\/strong>\u00a0of Ukraine, in consultation with international partners, organisations and experts.<\/p>\n

Food security<\/h4>\n

The European Council addressed the global food crisis. EU leaders\u00a0urged Russia to immediately stop<\/strong>\u00a0targeting agricultural facilities and to\u00a0unblock the Black Sea<\/strong>\u00a0ports<\/strong>\u00a0to permit the export of Ukrainian grain and\u00a0enable commercial shipping operations to resume. Leaders supported the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to this end.<\/p>\n

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Russia, by weaponising food in its war against Ukraine, is solely responsible for the global food security crisis it has provoked.<\/p>\n

European Council conclusions, 23 June 2022<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

EU leaders underlined that EU sanctions against Russia allow\u00a0the free flow of agricultural and food products<\/strong>\u00a0and the delivery of\u00a0humanitarian assistance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Leaders expressed strong support for the ongoing work on the\u00a0solidarity lanes<\/strong>, which are facilitating food exports from Ukraine via land routes and EU ports.<\/p>\n

Building on the FARM initiative as well as UN and G7 initiatives, they called on the Commission and EU member states to step up efforts to:<\/p>\n