The European Commission recommends E.U. candidacy for Ukraine and Moldova, but not Georgia.

The European Commission recommended on Friday that Ukraine be granted candidate status in the country’s bid to become a member of the E.U., the first formal step in a process that normally lasts longer than a decade.

It also recommended a similar status for Moldova — which applied for membership to the bloc soon after Ukraine, spurred by concerns about Russia’s threats in the region — but not for neighboring Georgia, which was deemed not ready for E.U. candidacy.

The Commission’s recommendation is just the first step on a long road. The ultimate decision will be in the hands of E.U. leaders who will meet June 23 and 24 to tackle the thorny question.

“We all know that Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective,” Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, said on Friday. “We want them to live with us the European dream.” Read more

@nytimes