EU Leaders Will Back Ukraine As Candidate Member Today — Here’s What That Means

European leaders are expected to back Ukraine as an official candidate for EU membership on Thursday, a major symbolic victory for the country as it fights off Russian invaders and the first step in a long, torturous journey to join the bloc.

European leaders are expected to support the candidacy of Ukraine for EU membership at a summit on Thursday.

The European Commission, the bloc's executive branch, endorsedUkraine as a candidate country on Friday, a day after leaders from Germany, France and Italy voiced their support.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the recommendation came with the understanding that Ukraine will implement a number of judicial and anti- corruption reforms.

Candidate status is the first step in a lengthy membership process to join the bloc, which involves sweeping reforms designed to bring a country in line with the EU's standards.

A formal candidacy doesn't mean that negotiations to join the EU will start immediately.

PLAY Forbes Business Full Screen About Connatix Read More Read More Read More Read More Read More Read More 1/1 Skip Ad Continue watching after the ad Visit Advertiser websiteGO TO PAGE

After four months of fighting, getting candidate status to join the EU is a boost to the spirits. Before Russia invaded, the prospect of EU membership for Ukraine was not a realistic one. After Putin invaded, President Volodymyr Zelensky tried to get European leaders to fast-track the EU membership application. If expedited, accession is not guaranteed and could be a long time away. It could take decades for Ukraine to join, according to France's president.

Tangent

EU expansion talks have been revived by the push for membership by Ukraine. Around the same time as Georgia applied, the European Commission endorsed candidate status forMoldova. The Commission will not be endorsing Georgia for candidate status due to the country's need to make further progress towards improving democracy, the judicial system and protecting fundamental rights. The commission recommended that all three countries be considered as a potential candidate. Thousands of people came out and supported Georgia's EU application. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are two potential candidates for EU membership.

There is a big deal about EU candidate status for Ukraine. It's calledPolitico.

There are reasons why some member states oppose a fast track application.