EU Summit: 'A good day for Europe' as EU leaders grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova

Ukraine and Moldova on Thursday evening officially became candidates for European Union membership after the bloc's 27 heads of state unanimously approved the status during a summit in Brussels.

Georgia was meanwhile granted European perspective, as recommended by the European Commission.

The leaders branded their decision "historic", a "big victory for Ukraine" and a "good day for Europe."

EU leaders will also discuss ways to accelerate the export of grains stuck in Ukraine as well as a French proposal to create a so-called European Political Community to enable European countries that are not member states to forge closer relations with the bloc.

They kicked off the day though with the leaders of Western Balkan countries whose respective bids to join the EU started over a decade ago.

Follow the action-packed day live in the blog below.