EU leaders managed to make a decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and to grant candidate status to Georgia on the understanding that the relevant steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation of 8 November 2023 have been taken. They also decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once it has met the necessary membership criteria.

“The European Council has decided to open accession negotitations with Ukraine and Moldoba. EUCO granted candidate status to Georgia. and the EU will open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is reached and has invited the commission to report by March with a view to taking such a decision.

A clear signal of hope for their people and for our continent”,-said the EU council president Charles Michel.

“The war of aggression by Russia on Ukraine has already deeply transformed the EU”, - He added.

The EU Council President said that the decision on the enlargement package taken at the Summit was “emotional” for him and called on the candidate countries to swiftly implement the necessary reforms to continue on the path towards EU membership.

As for his message to Georgians and the expected next steps he said: “Congratulations! We are really happy that we could make this decision! Now let’s work, quickly. Let’s roll up our sleeves, let make the necessary steps and reforms. Let’s make this European Union that we all share, a succes”.