EU to consider membership applications.
Applications for membership in the European Union from Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova will be considered by the European Commission.
The decision to review the applications was taken by the EU ambassadors and must be signed by the European Council – but this has been described as a formality procedure.
In a meeting that was held today representatives of the permanent member states discussed the applications they received last week, and agreed to call on the Commission to present its opinion on each of these states.
However this will take some time, the opinion given by the Commission may take up to 18 months to prepare.
And if successful, the process of joining the EU will take years.