Lawmakers from Moldova and Ukraine can join the European Parliament as observers as the two countries await EU accession. This was announced by the head of the European Parliament, Roberta Mezzola, in an interview with Politico.
"If a country looks at Europe from a political point of view, it should open its doors wide. Enlargement has always been the EU's strongest geopolitical tool," Metzola said. At the same time, the head of the European Parliament noted that in order to implement this initiative, it will have to receive the support of the political groups in the parliament, as well as provide a similar opportunity to other candidates for EU membership.
As Metzola specified, the observer members from Ukraine and Moldova will not have the right to vote and will be nominated, not elected. At the same time, they will officially receive seats in the European Parliament, thanks to which the number of the institution will increase from 705 to 720 after the European elections in June 2024. "We will have to see when that happens, at what point they will acquire right to vote," she added.
Ukraine and Moldova became candidates for EU membership in June 2022. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the EU should accept Ukraine and Moldova to "prevent them from being influenced by countries that do not share the bloc's values." According to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, Ukraine and other candidate countries can join the EU by 2030. /BGNES
