German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suggested giving Ukraine a direct role in European Union structures as a temporary step towards membership in the bloc, Reuters reported.
In a letter to EU leaders seen by Reuters, Merz suggested that Ukraine could be granted “associated member” status, which would allow Ukrainian officials to attend bloc meetings and ministerial gatherings but would not give them voting rights. The German leader also urged EU member states to make a political commitment to extend the principle of mutual assistance to Ukraine to create meaningful security guarantees.
A clear path towards the EU is crucial for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to offer his country’s people options for a peace deal, especially if Ukraine does not regain control of all its territory and join NATO.
Meanwhile, EU officials have said that Ukraine’s accession to the bloc is unlikely in the next few years, even though it is outlined in a 20-point peace plan being negotiated between Ukraine, the United States and Russia. Merz’s proposal demonstrates an effort to find a middle ground. He wrote that the proposal reflects Ukraine’s current situation as a country embroiled in war, and allowing partial membership would help to facilitate peace talks.
The EU accession process is typically long and bureaucratic, involving detailed negotiations and legal reforms
to ensure that a country meets the bloc’s democratic and economic standards. Also, joining the EU requires the consent and ratification of all 27 member states, which often creates obstacles.
In his proposal, the German chancellor outlined the benefits that Ukraine would receive if it became an associated member state. This is a category that does not exist in current EU law.
Merz has suggested that fallback mechanisms could be introduced if the rule of law situation in Ukraine deteriorates or if it falls behind in the accession process. He stressed that the proposal does not apply to other candidate countries, and suggested that the bloc should consider new solutions for countries that have been in the accession process for a long time.
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