Merz Proposed Ukraine's Admission To The EU

As an associate member.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suggested granting Ukraine the status of an "associate member" of the European Union, under which it would start integrating into the bloc's institutions but would not immediately receive full rights. Vladimir Zelensky earlier insisted that it was important for Ukraine to become a full member as soon as possible, and for this purpose it was even ready to temporarily give up payments from the common budget. But many in the EU and the European Commission believe it is wrong to speed up the process, as it is necessary for reforming institutions and entrenching European norms and values in the candidate country.

In a letter to EU leaders, Merz said that in its new status, Ukraine would be able to participate in EU Council and European Council meetings with voting rights, and without it in the European Commission and European Parliament, Der Spiegel and Bloomberg reported. It would also be able to appoint a judge who is an associate member of the European Court of Justice. In addition, Ukraine could be gradually included in the EU budget and receive extensive security guarantees.

Merz justified such a proposal on the basis of Ukraine's special situation due to being at war. In his view, it would also facilitate peace talks, including through a political commitment by EU member states to apply the mutual assistance clause to Ukraine. At the same time, the process of its preparation for full membership would continue.

Merz discussed the idea with Zelensky at an EU summit in April, Bloomberg notes. It was originally proposed by Germany and France at the same time, as the vast majority of the union's member states rejected the European Commission's plan to fast-track Ukraine's admission without fully meeting membership requirements.

Zelensky said before the April summit, "Ukraine does not need symbolic membership in the EU. Ukraine is protecting itself and, without a doubt, protecting Europe as well."

Without full membership, Ukraine will not be able to claim money from the EU's general budget. About two-thirds of it is for common agricultural policy (subsidies for farmers and so on) and regional development. Given that Ukraine will be the least developed country in the EU, which also requires huge funds for reconstruction and has a huge agro-industrial sector, the EU budget is in for a massive redistribution.

The deputy prime minister and Kiev's negotiator Taras Kachka told Bloomberg in April that the country is ready to postpone receiving agricultural subsidies for several years.

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