Ukraine as an EU accession candidate?

Plans from Kyiv split the Union

Created: 06/16/2022, 11:29 am

By: Helena Gries

Can Ukraine become an EU candidate in the middle of a war?

The EU Commission could recommend candidate status on Friday.

Opinions are divided.

Brussels – Just a few days after the start of the Ukraine war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy applied for his country's EU membership at the beginning of March.

The neighboring countries of Georgia and Moldova followed suit.

Most recently, Zelenskyj called on the EU countries to get his country "out of the gray area".

But can Ukraine become a candidate for EU membership in the midst of a Russian war of aggression?

On Friday (June 17, 2022), the European Commission intends to publish its recommendation on this issue.

In Brussels, a conditional candidate status is expected.

But it is the member states that call the shots – and they are divided.

Ukraine's EU accession plans: Ursula von der Leyen courts Kyiv

"Ukraine is part of the European family" - this was what Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the beginning of April.

During her visit to Kyiv last weekend, she underlined her support, but also called for reforms in the country, for example in the fight against corruption.

Visits to Ukraine during the war: Politics show solidarity

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It is expected in Brussels that the Commission will recommend a candidate status for Ukraine with conditions.

The same could apply to western-oriented Moldova.

Georgia, on the other hand, can hardly raise any hopes, as the EU estimates that it is lagging behind in terms of rapprochement.

Ukraine as EU accession candidate: EU summit discusses – other EU countries also skeptical

At the end of next week, the European heads of state and government will deal with the Commission's proposal at their summit.

Above all, Eastern European countries such as Poland and the Baltics support Ukraine and demand a strong signal to Russia.

But Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi also said recently: "We want Ukraine in the European Union." Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), on the other hand, expressed reservations and referred to the lengthy accession process, which "is not a matter of a few months or a few years". be.

Berlin rejects an accelerated procedure for Ukraine.

France, the Netherlands, Denmark and Portugal are also among the skeptics.

There is criticism of the rampant corruption in Ukraine and the lack of the rule of law.

As recently as September, the European Court of Auditors had attested Ukraine's failure in the fight against "major corruption" and lamented cliques "between oligarchs, high-ranking officials, politicians, the judiciary and state-owned companies".

Southern countries like Portugal could also suffer financial losses if billions of EU funds are diverted to Ukraine.

Plans for Ukraine's EU accession are dividing opinions in the European Union.

(Iconic image) © Arne Immanuel Bänsch/dpa

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Ukraine's EU accession controversial: step would initially be purely symbolic

Even if the EU summit decides in favor of candidate status: This step would be purely symbolic and will not bring any legal or financial advantages for Ukraine, as diplomats emphasize.

The start of the accession negotiations is much more important.

This requires a unanimous decision by the EU states following a recommendation from the EU Commission.

But it may be years before that happens.

Applicants for accession must demonstrate that they meet the 1993 Copenhagen criteria and can implement EU Community law, the so-called acquis.

To this end, chapter by chapter negotiations are opened, ranging from the judiciary to the fight against corruption to environmental protection or the protection of minorities.

(hg/AFP)