European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell attends a meeting of European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2023. EU leaders agreed on Thursday to open EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
BRUSSELS, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) leaders agreed on Thursday to open EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia.
The EU will also open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is reached, Charles Michel, president of the European Council, said.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed his dissent, writing on social media platform X that "Starting accession negotiations with Ukraine is a bad decision. Hungary did not participate in the decision."
Ukraine and Moldova submitted their applications to become member states of the EU in February and March 2022, respectively, and were granted candidate status in June this year. ■
European Council President Charles Michel attends a meeting of European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2023. EU leaders agreed on Thursday to open EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (R) attends a meeting of European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2023. EU leaders agreed on Thursday to open EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends a meeting of European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2023. EU leaders agreed on Thursday to open EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson arrives for a meeting of European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2023. EU leaders agreed on Thursday to open EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
European Council President Charles Michel (C) prepares to talk with the media after the first day's meeting of European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 15, 2023. EU leaders agreed on Thursday to open EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
European Council President Charles Michel (front, R) talks with the media after the first day's meeting of European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 15, 2023. EU leaders agreed on Thursday to open EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
