Ukraine becomes a contender for EU membership: Zelensky said - Ukraine's future lies in the EU; The application was given 4 days after the Russian attack

Ukraine has got the first success to join the European Union (EU). The EU has granted the status of a candidate for membership. After this announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote, 'Ukraine's future lies in the European Union.' Let us know what will be the way forward for Ukraine's membership of the EU, what will be the benefits...

Who had joined the EU before?

If a country wants to become a member of the EU, it has to meet certain criteria such as creating a free market economy, adopting EU laws, and the euro currency. After this, a long process goes on. Croatia, which is the newest member of the EU, took 10 years to gain membership. Similarly, Turkey took 12 years. 3 countries including Albania became candidates 8 years ago, but membership is pending.

When did Ukraine apply for EU membership?

Only four days after the Russian attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky officially requested the EU to become a member. Special criteria were set for the new member at the Copenhagen meeting of the European Council in 1993. that need to be fulfilled. Some reports say that Ukraine does not yet meet the Copenhagen criteria.

What to do after candidature?

The road ahead for Ukraine to enter the EU is not an easy one. Right now Germany, France, Italy, and Romania have approved. For this the approval of all the 27 member states of the EU is necessary. Now the next step will be to turn the member countries in their favor in the conference. The good thing in favor of Ukraine is that Hungary, a member country of the EU, which is considered a supporter of Russia, has recently said that it will support Ukraine for membership.

If Ukraine gets membership, what will be the benefit?

Ukraine's military will be helped immediately as soon as it joins the EU because EU member states are bound by a defense rule, in which if a country attacks an EU member country, the rest will have to help it. Ukraine will also benefit economically, as it will give it additional advantages like citizens of Ukraine can move anywhere in the EU and they will get all the rights that are enjoyed by the members of the EU.

Zelensky's message via video

Zelensky has also shared a 55-second video on his Instagram. In it, he said, 'We have just received the status of candidate for membership in the EU. This is our victory. We have waited for this since the independence of Ukraine, i.e. 30 years and the gruesome 120 days of the Russo-Ukraine war. "We will win, rebuild, enter the European Union, and then rest," he said. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992, Ukraine declared independence.

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