The EU and Ukraine: solidarity yes, fast accession no

It’s a tricky question for the EU: In view of the Russian attack, Ukraine is pushing for urgent EU accession. Political and technical reasons speak against it. But one sentence gives the Ukrainians hope.

Words that raise expectations and give hope: In an interview with the “Euronews” channel, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von Leyen, praised the close ties between the European Union and Ukraine. In doing so, she literally said: “Over time, they actually belong to us, they are one of us and we want to have them in.”

This sentence contains two statements that must be read together. However, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj only emphasizes the “being inside” at the end. In view of the Russian invasion, he demands a special procedure in order to quickly admit his country to the European Union. That was fair and the Ukrainians deserved it, said Zelenskyj in a video speech.

The interpretation of the EU

The EU Commission refers to what her boss says at the beginning of the sentence: “Over time…”.

According to a Commission spokesman, the same conditions apply to Ukraine as to other countries, despite the war and the suffering of the population. Before joining, they have to go through a lengthy process in order to adapt to the EU’s value and legal framework. That can take decades.

Already special relationships…

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressly justified the military attack on his neighboring country with the fact that Ukraine is oriented towards the West – that a majority of the population is striving to join the European Union and that the government in Kyiv is aiming for NATO membership.

The Ukrainians see their future in the West, as they have repeatedly made clear since the mass protests on the Maidan in Kyiv. The EU feels committed to this and this is expressed in the special relationships that the community has built up with Kyiv, especially after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. There is an association agreement that provides for close economic cooperation, especially in the energy sector. Ukrainian citizens are visa-free when traveling to the EU.

Since the Russian invasion, the EU has provided massive direct aid and political support – through an unprecedented package of sanctions and arms deliveries worth 450 million euros.

… but no accession in a rush procedure

A formal request from Ukraine then came in the afternoon: President Zelenskyy signed an official application for accession. However, the spokesman for the Commission had previously pointed out that the 27 heads of state and government would decide on EU membership.

You have formulated clear conditions for this. These include respect for EU values, a functioning economy that fits the internal market and the adoption of the common legal system. A candidate country has to prove in a lengthy procedure that it meets these criteria.

Accordingly, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is cautious about Ukraine’s rapid accession to the EU. That’s not something you can do in a few months, said the Greens politician in Berlin. In a guest article in the FAZ, EPP parliamentary group leader Manfred Weber spoke out in favor of quickly giving Ukraine an economic status similar to that of Switzerland or Norway. In terms of EU membership, Weber also referred to the applicable requirements.

Difficult debate at the wrong time

The EU Commission is therefore trying to emphasize Ukraine’s European perspective and solidarity with the victims of Russian aggression, while at the same time preventing any misunderstandings that could be caused by your President’s sentence.

An accession debate is not politically opportune at the moment: it could make it more difficult for the two sides to start peace talks. As a condition for a possible agreement with Kyiv, the Kremlin states that Russia’s security interests are taken into account. From Moscow’s point of view, this includes recognizing the sovereignty of the annexed Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and demilitarizing Ukraine.

In fact, the country’s NATO membership is out of the question. Because they see some of the 30 members of the alliance critically. In addition, the rule applies that the alliance does not accept states that have unresolved conflicts with their neighbors.