CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The European Parliament yesterday voted overwhelmingly to grant European Union candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. European Council President Charles Michel made the announcement after discussions among leaders of the EU’s 27 member states. The vote was 529-45, with 14 abstentions.

Detailed explanation-2: -There are eight recognised candidates for membership of the European Union: Turkey (since 1999), North Macedonia (2005), Montenegro (2010), Serbia (2012), Albania (2014), Moldova (2022), Ukraine (2022), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (2022).

Detailed explanation-3: -The European Council recently granted the candidate status to which country? Notes: Two countries – Ukraine and Republic of Moldova – were granted the status of candidate country by the European Council. This paves the way towards them becoming the members of the European Bloc.

Detailed explanation-4: -Candidate country status is conferred by the European Council on the basis of an opinion from the European Commission, drawn up following an application for membership of the European Union (EU) by the country concerned.