Debate on Ukraine’s EU accession: Humanly understandable, politically unwise

The prospect of EU accession for Ukraine now, as the EU Commission has just done, is a signal at the wrong time, says Stephan Ueberbach. Because it raises expectations that cannot be fulfilled so quickly.

Yes it’s right. Freedom and democracy are being defended in Ukraine against an unscrupulous dictator whose war of aggression also targets Europe’s values ​​and way of life. After all, since the mass protests on the Maidan in 2014, the Ukrainians have repeatedly made it abundantly clear that they see their future in the West. Membership in NATO and the European Union are now enshrined in the Ukrainian constitution as state goals. Vladimir Putin’s bombs should prevent that.

The people of Kyiv and elsewhere therefore deserve every support from the European Union. And the EU’s help is considerable – economically, politically and militarily. Comprehensive sanctions packages against the Russian aggressor are on the way, agreed with great unanimity. Everything right, everything important.

In the middle of a bloody war

However, the prospect of Ukraine joining the EU, as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has just done, sends a signal at the wrong time. Because it comes in the middle of a bloody war that can quickly escalate into an uncontrollable conflagration. And it raises false expectations.

Because there will be no urgent decision, as the Ukrainian President would like. The European Union has a fixed procedure for this, and with good reason. In small steps, accession candidates are gradually introduced to the EU. The process will drag on for years so that the necessary reforms and adjustments to Europe’s value and legal framework can be made. North Macedonia, for example, has been waiting since 2005 for accession negotiations to begin.

European perspective is there

Of course, Ukraine has a European perspective. After all, the country has been closely linked to Brussels through association agreements since 2016. Everything else, including membership of the European Union, will then have to be discussed and decided if the situation allows it. It is humanely understandable to want to give hope to the brave people in Ukraine in the face of the terrible war. It’s not politically wise.