In his speech the opening ceremony of the Cypriot EU Presidency, held in Nicosia, European Council President Costa said the next enlargement, to Ukraine, to Moldova, and to the Western Balkans, was crucial to strengthen the EU as a geopolitical player.
“First, we need to continue with reforms in the candidate countries. Second, the European Union must prepare itself to accommodate new members. In the context of the ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations, progress on enlargement is especially urgent over the next months, in order to reflect the impressive pace of reforms by Ukraine”, he noted.