Ukraine is pushing for EU membership – and the EU is holding out the prospect of joining. It should be clear to everyone that expectations cannot currently be met. So why the debate?
He’s for it, she’s for it – so what are you waiting for?
The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine eliminated many certainties that were believed to be resilient and set in motion a rethink that can definitely be described as a “turning point”.
And so a debate that has been going on for years is gaining new urgency: Should Ukraine join the European Union?
President Volodymyr Zelenskys called on the international community on Monday to “immediately admit Ukraine according to a new special procedure”. Earlier, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen raised expectations when she said in an interview: “Over time, they actually belong to us, they are one of us and we want to have them in,” she said.
But, as so often in these confusing hours and days, it’s the nuances that count.
It is likely to be some time before accession negotiations actually take place – as Von der Leyen at least hinted at (“In the course of time…”) and her spokesman emphasized afterwards. The Commission President’s statements were “extremely general”, , simply expressing the belief that Ukraine is a European country.
Ukraine’s accession to the EU is therefore still conceivable, but it probably won’t happen quickly.
There are several reasons for this, both technical and political. That – and Ukraine’s membership, at least without a “new special procedure” as desired by President Zelensky, is practically impossible.
“It is a misinterpretation that Ukraine can now quickly become a member”
“According to the European treaties, any European country that shares the values of the EU can submit an application for membership,” says Gunther Krichbaum, the European policy spokesman for the Union faction, zum star. “Of course, that also applies to Ukraine.” However, no EU accession procedure is possible quickly. “Depending on the accession country, the procedure is divided into up to 35 chapters. It’s about domestic and economic policy criteria that have to be met for admission. When the conditions are met, the chapters are closed one after the other.”
Accession candidates are introduced to the EU in a lengthy process so that the necessary reforms and adjustments to the EU’s legal framework can be made. For admission, an applicant country must prove itself to be a stable democracy based on the rule of law, but also have a functioning and competitive market economy – to name just a few of those that regulate accession. The Republic of North Macedonia, currently one of five candidate countries, has been waiting since 2005 for accession negotiations to begin.
Ukraine, a “strategic partner” of the EU, is therefore likely to be a long way from being accepted. Despite years of funding, “major corruption is still a central problem in Ukraine”, . According to the auditors, this is a “main obstacle” to the country’s development and “contradicts the values of the EU”. “Corruption at the highest level and so-called state capture are widespread in Ukraine. They not only hamper competition and growth, but also damage the process of democratization.”
The debate about Ukraine’s speedy EU membership is therefore raising false expectations. It is true that Selenskyj’s statement that the Ukrainians would have membership in view of the Russian war of aggression is morally ineffective. But the political (and sad) truth is that admission will not be decided by a commitment to Western values and the courage to defend them against Russian invaders.
“It is a misinterpretation that Ukraine can now quickly become a member. Nobody is assuming that,” says Union politician Krichbaum zum star. “President Zelenskyy is about getting the status of a candidate country. This would go beyond the existing association agreement with the European Union and allow for further pre-accession aid from the EU budget in order to continue on the path to membership.” That also has a signal effect, according to Krichbaum. “Ursula von der Leyen wanted to send a signal of hope in these difficult times with her statements,” he says. “Ukraine is part of Europe, it also has a future in the community of states known as the ‘European Union’, that’s what it’s all about. This message shouldn’t be underestimated.”
A double signal
But what is a signal of hope for some could be a signal of threat for others. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin had war of aggression that Ukraine was orienting itself towards the west and aiming for membership in the EU and NATO. In this respect, a debate on accession might not be politically opportune either – apart from the technical reasons – since it is likely to complicate peace talks.
The decision on an admission process, whether accelerated or not, is not up to Commission President Von der Leyen anyway, but to the EU countries. Council President Charles Michel, who represents the EU states in Brussels, pledged at least a serious examination of the application for membership. This is a difficult topic and there are different views among the member states, Michel said on Tuesday in the European Parliament. “But the Council will not be able to evade its responsibility.”
A quick decision is unlikely, especially since it would hardly mean immediately tangible support. “The signal of hope is good, but the people in Ukraine need help now,” says Union politician Krichbaum, “for example in the form of municipal partnerships and sponsorships with other European cities and communities.” That could help local people “quickly and concretely” and would “strengthen people’s togetherness.”
The SPD parliamentary group also seems to see more pressing issues at the moment. “In view of Russia’s aggression, which cannot be justified in any way, practical solidarity with Ukraine is currently in the foreground – through humanitarian aid, through the willingness to take in refugees, also through arms deliveries,” says SPD parliamentary group leader Achim Post star.
In addition, it must be a question “wherever the situation allows it, to continue to support Ukraine with all our strength on its European path.” Concrete progress is needed “as soon as possible”, for example in connection with the internal market or in economic and social cooperation.
Ukrainians are currently defending European values against “unprecedented and barbaric aggression by Russian President Putin,” Post said. It is therefore all the more important “that when this war is hopefully over soon, we courageously develop Ukraine’s European perspective, deepen it step by step and, above all, make it concrete and practical for the citizens of Ukraine to experience.”
Ukraine has also anchored EU accession in its constitution since 2019, making it a national goal. And President Zelenskyy is ready to fight for it. “We are fighting for our rights, for our freedom, for our lives. And now we are fighting to survive”, . “But we are also fighting to be equal members of Europe.”.
EU Commission President Von der Leyen also commented on the debate again, but now more cautiously. Already today Ukraine and the European Union are closer than ever before. “But there’s still a long way to go.” The war had to be ended and the next steps had to be discussed. “I am sure that nobody in this plenary hall can doubt that a people who so courageously stand up for our European values belong to our European family.”
She concluded her speech with the words: “Long live Europe. And long live free and independent Ukraine.”
Source: Stern
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