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'Door to EU should be open to ambitious societies:' Polish president

24.06.2022 01:00
Polish President Andrzej Duda has hailed the European Union's decision to grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate status for membership, saying that "the door to the EU should be open to ambitious societies."
Audio
Polands President Andrzej Duda and Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky.
Poland's President Andrzej Duda and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.Photo: Jakub Szymczuk/KPRP

EU leaders on Thursday formally approved Ukraine and Moldova as candidates to join the 27-nation bloc, in a move hailed by many as historic.

Duda welcomed the decision in a Twitter post.

He said: "The European Council decided to grant Ukraine and Moldova the status of EU candidates. Great news! Congratulations! We’ve actively supported Ukraine's and Moldova’s efforts and we rejoice with them! The door to the EU should be open to ambitious societies. Glory to the Defenders of Ukraine!"

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki tweeted late on Thursday: "Ukraine has officially been granted EU candidate status. It’s a great day for Europe - a historic moment for European unity and the defense of its values."

European Council chief Charles Michel described the decision as "a historic moment" and "a crucial step" on Ukraine's path toward the EU.

"Our future is together," he said in a tweet.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference in Brussels she was convinced that Ukraine "will move as swiftly as possible and work as hard as possible to implement the necessary reforms."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the EU's decision as "a unique and historical moment," tweeting that "Ukraine's future is within the EU."

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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Agnieszka Bielawska.