EU plus

“EU soft power will still be a factor, but I think the EU now recognises that this works more with like-minded countries that aspire to join the EU... The notion that soft power works on countries with different political systems – I think that has been, if you like, the victim of the Ukrainian crisis” says Prof Jamie Shea in this episode of our Global Europe Unpacked podcast.

Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have in the last two days submitted formal applications to join the European Union. The three countries have for long asked to be given a membership perspective - but until this week this was deemed to be all but impossible.

A European Parliament resolution yesterday urged EU countries to work towards granting Ukraine EU candidate status. A membership perspective in the form of candidate status is not membership. It is a political signal that the door of membership is open, and an opportunity to focus minds on all the sides to start the long and laborious process of EU membership. Whilst the resolution of the European Parliament speaks only about Ukraine, the three trio countries should be given the membership perspective and candidate status simultaneously. All three are very determined in pursuing this path; all three have strong Association Agreements with the EU; and all three are under considerable Russian pressure. A membership perspective will strengthen the hand of those working for reforms in these countries. It will also send another message to Putin's Russia that its nefarious policy towards the neighbours has failed. Now is the right time to do that. Give Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia a membership perspective now! Give them candidate status and work with them to make this an achievable task within this decade.

Algeria's state-owned oil company has offered to increase its supply of natural gas to Europe in case of possible decline of supplies from Russia. Sonatrach CEO Toufik Hakkar made the announcement on Sunday saying that the firm was ready to pump additional gas to the EU from its surplus via the Transmed pipeline linking Algeria to Italy.