The Dutch government has stated its readiness to support granting Ukraine candidate status.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte called the European Commission's recommendation a "reasonable compromise" during a press conference following a government meeting. According to him, both supporters and opponents of Ukraine's candidacy can agree with this conclusion, reports RTL.

"As a cabinet, we have said: we find this in balance, we think this is sensible. So let's embrace this for the sake of unity in Europe. The Netherlands is positive about this," stated Wopke Hoekstra, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

According to him, years will pass before Ukraine and Moldova can join the EU. The countries must meet the so-called Copenhagen criteria. And there will be no concessions in this process, Hoekstra said. "These are not processes that go from today to tomorrow," he said.

As previously reported, the Dutch government has urged the EU Commission to take a "rigorous" conditionality in taking Ukraine forward.

Earlier, Sweden and Denmark, the most "problematic" in this matter, backed candidate status for Ukraine.

On June 17, the European Commission recommended to Council confirming Ukraine perspective to become member of the EU.

Based on the European Commission's Opinions, the EU Member States will now have to decide unanimously on the next steps at the European Council on 23 and 24 June.