EU considers Ukraine’s membership as refugees surge

The rising refugee crisis in Europe arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might soon find resolution if the proposal by the European Commission gains the approval of the 27 nation economic bloc to admit the embattled country.

The European Commission recommended Ukraine to become a candidate for European Union membership; clearing the way for EU leaders who will vote at a summit in the week to approve.

The development came as the Prespa Forum, on Friday in Ohrid, North Macedonia, urged the European Union (EU) to speed up the integration of the Western Balkans into the bloc.

The forum which was attended by heads of state, governments and diplomats from the Western Balkans and EU took decisions on how to improve the EU’s ties with both Western Balkans countries and Ukraine.

Germany’s special envoy to the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, said “all countries that are seeking enlargement are on one page,” adding that “the credibility of the enlargement towards Ukraine, towards Moldova, towards Western Balkans is the same.”

The Oraccle Today reports that millions of Ukrainian refugees have spilled into EU countries follwing Russia’s invasion of the country.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective, adding that European leaders “want them to live with us, the European dream.”

The decision will be left up to EU leaders, who will vote at a summit in Brussels. Some leaders have already shown their support for Ukraine’s joining the bloc.

Sweden, which is currently applying for membership in NATO, said it was in favor of Ukraine’s candidacy.

Swedish Foreign Minister, Ann Linde tweeted: “Every state has the sovereign right to choose their own path; Sweden stands behind their commitment and choice.”

After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz tweeted: “Ukraine belongs to the European family. Germany wants a positive decision in favor of Ukraine as a EU candidate country.”

Moldova, another former Soviet republic, was also recommended for membership in the bloc, which is composed of 27 other members. “Moldova has taken a decisive step toward reforms, with a clear mandate from its citizens,” von der Leyen said.

She added, however, that the country has a “long way to go.”

In order for countries to join the bloc, they will be required to carry out a series of political and economic reforms.

Georgia, which has also applied for EU membership, was told by the commission it should be given the “European perspective” only once a number of issues have been addressed.

“It is up to Georgia now to take the necessary steps,” von der Leyen said. “The sooner you deliver, the sooner there is progress.”

Responding to the news of Ukraine’s EU candidacy, the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Russia was aware of the “intensification of discussions” and that it was “observing in the most careful way.”

The news will be a blow to Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria, which pro-Russian separatist authorities have controlled since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990. Russian forces have been stationed there since 1992, after a ceasefire was signed between Moldova and Transnistria, following a short border war in which up to 700 people were killed.

The Kremlin props up Transnistria’s economy by supplying free gas to local industries and paying the elderly the “Putin pension,” a total of $8 a month. In return, Russia keeps soldiers stationed there permanently in what the Kremlin describes as “peacekeeping.”

Russian state media, which is widely available in the region, has also played a significant role in bolstering pro-Russian sentiment.