Flags with EU symbols at the building of the European Commission in Brussels. File photoMOSCOW, June 9The European Commission is expected to recommend granting Ukraine candidate status for EU membership next week, Bloomberg reports, citing informed sources. Volodymyr Zelensky signed an application for Ukraine's accession on February 28 to the European Union. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during a visit to Kyiv in April, gave Zelensky a questionnaire to start negotiations on joining the European Union. The EC is currently assessing Ukraine's responses and, as previously reported, it is expected to present its recommendations on the possibility of granting Ukraine candidate status to the EU heads of state during the June 23-24 summit.» The EU executive is expected to recommend next week to grant Ukraine candidate status,» the agency said in a statement. It is noted that the EC recommendations, which are still to be discussed and agreed upon by the European Commissioners' College, will be accompanied by conditions related to the rule of law and anti-corruption legislation. At the same time, before the official granting of such status to Ukraine, the EC recommendation must be approved by the EU member states. Earlier, the deputies of the European Parliament supported granting Ukraine the status of a candidate. European Commission chief denies EU responsibility for food crisis
