E.U. decides to open accession negotiations with Ukraine

European Union leaders have decided to begin accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, European Council President Charles Michel said on Thursday.

Additionally, he said, the European Council has granted E.U. candidate status to Georgia. Negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina will begin “once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is reached,” according to Michel.

With the decisions announced Thursday, E.U. have followed all of the recommendations made earlier by the European Commission.

The European Council’s decision means the European Commission will now be able to start working on the technical aspects of Ukraine’s prospective E.U. accession. If Ukraine is determined to meet the necessary criteria, the negotiating framework for its membership in the bloc could be approved at the next E.U. summit this spring.