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Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23-24 June 2022, including the meeting with Western Balkan leaders on 23 June - Candidate status of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia (debate)
The leaders of the Western Balkan countries are meeting in Brussels on Thursday 23 June to call on the Commission, the High Representative and the Council to make significant progress in the EU accession process. This acceleration stems from the consequences of the war in Ukraine and responds to the discussion that will take place on the same day, when EU leaders should grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, while Georgia would be offered an accession perspective. Following Jean Monnet's adage that Europe will be in crisis, German Minister Annalena Baerbock said that accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania should be opened immediately. A point of view that we absolutely do not share! Because the conflict in Ukraine must not turn into a sort of "pass-droit" for countries that share little or no "European way of life" and are still very far from the minimum standard of the acquis communautaire.