On the 23rd, the European Council decided to agree with the proposal of the European Commission to grant Ukraine and Moldova the status of EU candidate member states. The two-day EU summer summit opened in Brussels, Belgium on the 23rd. In a statement issued that night, the European Council said that the European Council decided to grant Ukraine and Moldova EU candidate status, and requested the European Commission to report to it on the implementation of the conditions set by the applicant countries for joining the EU. Once all the specified conditions have been fully met, the Council will decide to take the next step. The statement also said that once the priorities specified in the opinion of the European Commission on Georgia's application are resolved, Georgia will obtain the status of EU candidate. Michel, President of the European Council, said on social media that this was a historic moment, marking a key step on the road to the EU by Ukraine and Moldova. Ukrainian President Zelensky sent a message on social media on the 23rd, welcoming the EU's granting Ukraine EU candidate status. He said that this is a "unique and historic moment" in the relations between Ukraine and the EU, and that "the future of Ukraine lies in the EU". After Russia launched a special military operation in February this year, Ukraine immediately started the process of applying for EU membership and formally submitted its application on February 28. Moldova and Georgia also submitted their applications to the EU on March 3. On June 17, the European Commission recommended that Ukraine and Moldova be granted EU candidate status. At the same time, it believed that Georgia still needs to make some progress before obtaining EU candidate status. Currently, the EU candidate countries also include Albania, northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. The above five countries have waited for many years and have not yet become full members of the EU. (Xinhua News Agency)