Merz proposes associate EU membership for Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed that Ukraine become an 'associate member' of the EU, as a kind of preliminary step towards full membership. Kyiv would, for example, be allowed to attend the meetings of EU decision-making bodies, albeit without voting rights. Reactions to the idea have been mixed – also in Europe's opinion sections.
An opportunity for Europe
The Stuttgarter Zeitung welcomes the initiative:
“Admittedly, for the most part the benefits would be symbolic. ... But it would be a concrete signal to the people of Ukraine that their painful struggle is worthwhile. And it would send a very clear message to the Kremlin that it will not win this war. ... It also represents an opportunity for Europe because Ukraine could become the driving force behind economic recovery in the EU once the war is over. And in view of Russia's aggressive, expansionist policy, Ukraine has another, very weighty argument: the country has the best army in Europe.”
Chancellor shoots from the hip
The taz fears this would only make things more difficult for Ukraine:
“For example, its relations with the other EU candidate countries in the Western Balkans. They have been waiting for 20 years – and would feel sidelined by the preferential treatment accorded to Ukraine. Military cooperation with Ukraine would also become problematic. So far the EU has had no obligation to provide assistance. Merz now wants to give Zelensky European security guarantees and activate the mutual assistance clause in the EU Treaty. That would change everything. EU countries would suddenly be obliged to stand by Kyiv if the war with Russia escalates. Nobody knows what that would mean in practice. ... Merz shoots from the hip again – the consequences are impossible to foresee.”
Integration already underway
Der Standard takes stock:
“For formal reasons alone, EU membership for a country that is at war is out of the question. Friedrich Merz is, of course, well aware of all this. That is why the German Chancellor has now proposed creating of a new form of associate membership for Ukraine. ... The proposal sounds rather unrealistic – and it is. ... Ukraine's integration is effectively already underway, despite the war. No candidate country has ever received so many billions of euros in loans and grants. This should be part of a dual strategy vis-à-vis Russia: pressure, sanctions and diplomacy must be used to bring Putin to the negotiating table.”
No rights, only obligations
European Pravda is sceptical:
“The path proposed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is designed to ensure that we remain in the 'waiting room of the European Union' for years to come, while at the same time opening the door to other candidate countries, including Moldova. During this period, Ukraine would have no advantages whatsoever and no influence over the functioning of the European Union, but would be obliged to submit to its decisions. Furthermore, the status proposed by Merz could not be legally guaranteed. Ukraine could even lose this status in the event of a change of government in Berlin or Brussels.”