European Commission publishes analytical reports on Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia’s alignment with the EU acquis

03/02/2023

Yesterday, on 2 February 2022, the European Commission published its analytical reports assessing the capacity of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia to assume the obligations of EU membership. The reports provide a detailed analysis on where the countries stand with regard to their alignment with the EU acquis, the EU’s body of common rights and obligations. The reports complement the Opinions on the three countries’ applications for EU membership adopted by the European Commission in June 2022. The European Council granted a European perspective for the three countries and candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova, in line with the Opinions which specify a number of priorities to be addressed in this context.

In the reports, the Commission evaluated the level of approximation of the EU acquis on the basis of the replies to the questionnaires from the three applicant countries, as well as relevant information obtained in the framework of the intensive dialogues carried out over many years under the Association Agreements, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (AA/DCFTA), to assess their implementation. All three applicants were assessed on the basis of the same criteria and their own merits.

Next steps

Yesterday’s analytical reports provide a snapshot on the situation as regards the capacity of the three countries to fulfil the obligations of EU membership. The reports offer valuable guidance on the work ahead under the different acquis chapters.

The European Commission will continue to provide Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia with guidance and support in this regard to help the three countries further align to EU standards and norms covering the entire EU acquis.

The Commission will report on progress by the three countries to address the reform priorities identified in the Opinions as part of the next ‘Enlargement package’ due in the Autumn. These reports will take into account policy developments since June 2022 and provide policy recommendations regarding the reforms to address for the next period.

Ahead of the EU-Moldova Association Council on 7th February, the last Association Implementation Report on the Republic of Moldova will be published. Similar reports were published before Ukraine and Georgia’s respective Association Councils in September last year.