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WORLD NEWS Friday 24 June 2022
European Union makes Ukraine a candidate for EU membership

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN and aggression, the other EU
MIKE CORDER countries are obligated to
Associated Press assist it by all the means in
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- their power.
pean Union agreed Thurs- The main benefits of EU
day to put Ukraine on a membership, though, are
path toward EU member- economic, since it gives
ship, acting with uncharac- access to a market of 450
teristic speed and unity to million consumers with free
pull the embattled country movement of labor, goods,
further away from Russia’s services and capital.
influence and bind it more Ukraine has long aspired to
closely to the West. join NATO, too, but the mili-
Meeting at a summit in tary alliance is not about to
Brussels, leaders of the EU’s offer an invitation, in part
27 nations mustered the re- because of governmental
quired unanimous approv- corruption, shortcomings
al to grant Ukraine candi- in the country’s defense
date status. That sets in mo- establishment, and its con-
tion a membership process tested borders.
that could take years or Before the war, Russian
even decades. President Vladimir Putin
Ukrainian President Volody- demanded that Ukraine
myr Zelenskyy tweeted his Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with European never be allowed to join
gratitude and declared: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, June 11, 2022. NATO, which he has con-
Associated Press
“Ukraine’s future is within demned for its eastward
the EU.” Ukraine. Ukraine will have to curb ahead of the final decision. spread toward Russia’s
“It’s a victory. We have Ukraine applied for mem- entrenched government The EU nations have been flank. But earlier this month,
been waiting for 120 days bership less than a week corruption and adopt united in backing Ukraine he did not seem bothered
and 30 years,” he said on after Moscow invaded on other reforms.The Europe- in its fight against Russia’s by Ukraine’s determination
Instagram, referring to the Feb. 24. Thursday’s deci- an Parliament endorsed invasion with money and to get closer to the EU, say-
duration of the war and the sion was unusually rapid for Ukraine’s bid hours before weapons, adopting un- ing it is not a military pact
decades since Ukraine be- the EU and its go-slow ap- the summit started, passing precedented economic and thus “we have no ob-
came independent upon proach to expansion. But a resolution that called on sanctions against the Krem- jections.”
the breakup of the Soviet the war and Ukraine’s re- EU governments to “move lin. The EU’s leaders also also
Union. “And now we will quest for fast-track consid- without delay” and “live up EU candidate status agreed Thursday to recog-
defeat the enemy.” eration lent urgency to the to their historical responsi- doesn’t give an automatic nize a “European perspec-
European Commission Pres- country’s cause. bility.” right to join the bloc and tive” for yet another former
ident Ursula von der Leyen To gain EU membership, “It will strengthen Ukraine, it doesn’t provide any imme- Soviet republic, Georgia.
pronounced it a “good countries must meet a de- will strengthen Europe. It is diate security guarantees. European Council Presi-
day for Europe.” tailed host of economic a decision for freedom and Once a country gains dent Charles Michel said
The EU also gave candidate and political conditions, democracy and puts us on membership, however, it is the EU will be ready to ap-
status to the tiny country of including a commitment the right side of history,” covered under an EU treaty prove its candidate status
Moldova, another former to the rule of law and oth- European Parliament Presi- clause that says if a mem- once “outstanding priori-
Soviet republic that borders er democratic principles. dent Roberta Metsola said ber falls victim to armed ties” are addressed.q

Germany says it helped 21,000 people

get out of Afghanistan

By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER half of this group has so try. The minister deplored
Associated Press far managed to leave Af- that the economic and hu-
BERLIN (AP) — The German ghanistan. manitarian crisis in Afghani-
government has managed Baerbock said that peo- stan continues to get worse
to get more than 21,000 for- ple who left Afghanistan, and that human rights are
mer local employees and mostly through Pakistan, being restricted on a mas-
other endangered people make up around two thirds sive scale.
out of Afghanistan since of the total who have been “The bottom line is that the
the Taliban seized power approved for admission to lives of people in Afghani-
almost a year ago, Ger- Germany. They include Af- stan have deteriorated
many’s foreign minister said ghans who either worked drastically in the last few German Foreign Minster Annalena Baerbock briefs the media
Thursday. for Germany as local em- months,” Baerbock said. about Germany’s Afghanistan policy at the Foreign Ministry
However, around 10,000 ployees or were involved in One of the main obstacles during a news conference in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, June
people are still waiting for efforts for democracy and that keeps people from 23, 2022.
an opportunity to get out human rights in Afghani- getting out of Afghanistan Associated Press
with German help, Annele- stan. About 75% of the lo- is that the Taliban require visas, which can be expen- stan in the first place will un-
na Baerbock told reporters cal employees in particular those wanting to leave by sive and also require own- fortunately remain and that
in Berlin. These are primarily have been able to leave. plane to show a passport, ing a passport. is why it will also remain our
people on a so-called “hu- In addition, almost all Ger- which many at-risk people “I would like to say clearly main task to simply provide
man rights list” and there- man nationals and their do not have. And neigh- that the difficulties of get- support on the ground,”
fore particularly at risk. Only families have left the coun- boring countries insist on ting people out of Afghani- the minister said.q