German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed granting Ukraine the status of “associate member” of the European Union without voting rights while the country goes through the process of joining the community. This follows from the letter, which was accessed by the AFP agency on Thursday, writes TASR.
The plan, first floated by Merz last month, would allow the Ukrainian leader to attend the bloc’s summits, but without the ability to vote. Kyiv would have its representative at the highest level in the executive of the Union, i.e. in the European Commission (EC), as well as non-voting members in the European Parliament.
Aid to Ukraine from the EU
From the proposal that Merz outlined in a letter addressed to the President of the EC Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council Antonio Costa, it follows that the clause on mutual assistance of the community would apply to Ukraine and the country could draw funds from certain parts of the EU budget.
“It is clear that due to the countless obstacles, as well as the political complexity of the ratification processes, we will not be able to complete the accession process in a short time,” wrote Merz. “I envision a political solution that will bring Ukraine immediately and significantly closer to the European Union and its key institutions,” he added.
Ukraine and the accession process
Kyiv is trying to speed up its efforts to join the 27-member European Union at a time when it is resisting the Russian invasion, AFP reminds. Progress in this process was blocked by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, but his end as Prime Minister revived Ukraine’s hopes that it could move forward.
However, Merz’s plan may encounter skepticism from other partners in the EU, AFP notes. Kyiv is trying to maintain the momentum towards joining the Union and fears that it will get stuck “halfway” with the proposed transitional solutions, the agency added. The German chancellor nevertheless insists on Ukraine becoming a “full member” and called for the immediate opening of “all negotiating chapters”.
