The European Council decided during its meeting on Thursday to open EU accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine, Charles Michel, the president of the Council, announced on social media.

The European official also announced that Georgia was granted candidate status at the same meeting. The EU will also open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is reached, and has invited the European Commission to report by March with a view to taking such a decision.

“A clear signal of hope for their people and for our continent,” declared Charles Michel.