Germany and France have proposed a ’light’ EU membership for Ukraine, along with granting it symbolic benefits, according to The Financial Times (FT). Kyiv would not have voting rights, but the format could include provisions for mutual defense, according to the paper. This initiative is aimed at accelerating integration while avoiding the lengthy bureaucratic processes of full accession. Both countries stress that the proposed model is an accelerator, not a substitute for full membership.
However, Berlin and Paris disagree concerning a key issue. Berlin is pushing for Ukraine to be given an ’associate membership’ status, under which its representatives would take part in meetings of EU ministers and leaders but would not be able to vote. In addition, Kyiv would not have automatic access to funding from the EU’s common budget. France, meanwhile, is proposing a similar model, calling it an ’integrated state’ status. Under this approach, access to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and European funding instruments such as cohesion policy would be postponed until after accession.
According to FT’s sources, Kyiv fears that any softened concept could be perceived by a war-weary public as a poor substitute for full membership, whilst noting that some elements of the French and German proposals still could be useful. Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that at least 80% of Ukrainians support European integration. He believes that blocking Ukraine’s EU accession could negatively affect public sentiment.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka confirmed that Ukraine is engaged in active discussions with Paris and Berlin regarding these proposals. “Light” EU membership for Ukraine, The Ukrainian Review
The European Commission is preparing a final proposal that likely reflects the Franco-German initiatives. A key element includes the potential application of the EU’s mutual defense clause to this format through a political declaration. This would provide Ukraine with additional security guarantees before official enlargement.
As for the support the bloc provides Ukraine, the approval of a €90 billion loan for Ukraine on 23 April should be mentioned, which, according to the regulations, will be used for domestic weapons production, purchasing weapons from partners, preparing the energy system for the next winter and, fulfilling social obligations to citizens.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects to receive the first tranche of the loan by late May or early June.
In addition, the EU has just launched a support package for Ukraine aimed at recovery in energy, housing, and transport sectors. The total amount exceeds €600 million. It was announced during the EU-Ukraine Business Summit in Brussels on 23 April.
It should be noted that, from the perspective of a country whose economy and infrastructure have al-most entirely been destroyed during a multi-year war with Russia, an ’EU light’ program offers more than it would have been entitled to as an EU candidate, given the EU’s traditional merit-based assessment process.
At the same time, a simplified EU membership for Ukraine may prove to be a far more successful solution for the EU than full membership, particularly as for the future participation of Ukraine in the aforementioned CAP programs. Currently, many EU members, for obvious reasons, remain wary of accelerated accession of any country, fearing it might destabilize the bloc’s political dynamics.
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