German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suggested making Ukraine an “associate member” of the EU to bring it closer to the EU before it completes the process to qualify for full membership.
Ukraine is keen to join the bloc as a measure to enhance its security and prosperity as it fights against aggressor Russian forces, especially as the US has so far rejected the idea of it becoming a NATO member.
What has Merz proposed?
In a letter to EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa seen by news agencies on Thursday, the German leader proposed allowing Ukrainian officials to attend EU summits and ministerial meetings, but without voting rights.
“It is clear that given the countless obstacles, as well as the political complexities of the ratification processes, we will not be able to complete the accession process any time soon,” Merz wrote.
“What I envision is a political solution that would immediately bring Ukraine closer to the EU and its main institutions,” he wrote.
Under Merz’s proposal, Ukraine would be covered by the bloc’s mutual assistance clause, and would also be eligible for funding from parts of the EU budget.
Merz stressed that he still wants Ukraine to eventually become a “full member” and urged the start of all necessary negotiations.
“This membership will not be lite,” he wrote.
Offer with snap-back mechanism
Merz wrote that any such agreement with Ukraine could include a snap-back mechanism that would revoke interim membership if Kyiv backtracks on the rule-of-law standards required for full access.
“My proposal reflects the special situation of Ukraine, a war-torn country. It will help facilitate ongoing peace talks as part of a negotiated peace settlement,” Merz wrote.
He said this was “essential not only for Ukraine but for the security of the entire continent.”
Merz said he intended to discuss his ideas with fellow European leaders.
“My goal will be to reach an agreement soon and form a dedicated task force to work out the details,” he wrote.
Merz’s proposal may be accepted with some skepticism by both Germany’s EU partners and Ukraine itself, which fears that such an interim solution could leave it in limbo with no possible end.
long EU accession process
Although the 20-point peace plan discussed by the US, Ukraine and Russia put forward 2027 as a possible date for Ukraine to join the EU, European officials believe the country’s full membership is unlikely in the next few years.
Accession processes are generally lengthy and involve much bureaucracy, with candidate countries required to meet a number of democratic and economic standards.
Each of the bloc’s 27 member states must approve and ratify any accession, adding to the potential hurdles.
Kyiv’s progress on joining the EU was significantly hampered by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, but his successor Peter Magyar has raised some hopes of moving the process forward. There was some hope for the process to move forward.
Edited by: Zack Crellin