German leader Merz pushes associate EU membership model for Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suggested making Ukraine an “associate member” of the European Union to bring it closer to the bloc before it completes the process of qualifying for full membership.

Ukraine is keen to join the bloc as a measure to bolster its security and prosperity as it fights against invading Russian forces, especially as the US has so far rejected the idea of its becoming a NATO member.

In a letter to EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa seen by news agencies on Thursday, the German leader proposed allowing Ukrainian officials to take part in EU summits and ministerial meetings but without voting rights.

“It is obvious that we will not be able to complete the accession process shortly, given the countless hurdles as well as the political complexities of ratification processes,” Merz wrote.

“What I envisage is a political solution that brings Ukraine substantially closer to the European Union and its core institutions immediately,” he wrote.

Under Merz’s proposal, Ukraine would be covered by the bloc’s mutual assistance clause, and it would also be eligible for funding from parts of the EU’s budget.

Merz insisted that he still wanted Ukraine to eventually become a “full member” and urged the launch of all necessary negotations.

“It would not be a membership light,” he wrote.

In a letter to EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa seen by news agencies on Thursday, the German leader proposed allowing Ukrainian officials to take part in EU summits and ministerial meetings but without voting rights.

“It is obvious that we will not be able to complete the accession process shortly, given the countless hurdles as well as the political complexities of ratification processes,” Merz wrote.

“What I envisage is a political solution that brings Ukraine substantially closer to the European Union and its core institutions immediately,” he wrote.

Under Merz’s proposal, Ukraine would be covered by the bloc’s mutual assistance clause, and it would also be eligible for funding from parts of the EU’s budget.

Merz insisted that he still wanted Ukraine to eventually become a “full member” and urged the launch of all necessary negotations.

“It would not be a membership light,” he wrote.

Although 2027 was put forward as a possible date for Ukraine’s EU accession in a 20-point peace plan discussed by the US, Ukraine and Russia, European officials believe the country’s full membership is unlikely in the next few years.

Accession procedures are usually long and entail a great deal of bureaucracy, with candidate countries required to meet several democratic and economic standards.

Each of the bloc’s 27 member states must also approve and ratify any accession, adding to the possible obstacles.

Kyiv’s progress on EU accession was considerably hampered by Hungary’s former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, but his successor, Peter Magyar, has raised some hopes of the process moving forward. raised some hopes of the process moving forward.