Enlargement: EU leaders attempt to launch Ukraine’s accession process

Brussels – Following the €90 billion in financial support and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, it is now time for Ukraine to move forward with the process of EU integration. The informal summit of EU heads of state and government in Nicosia opens with a political commitment to Kyiv’s entry into the club of 27. The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, could not have put it better before the summit began: “Now is the time to look ahead and prepare the next step, and the next step is to formally open the first clusters (groups of technical chapters, ed.) for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.”

This commitment is also enshrined in the joint statement that Costa himself has drawn up with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky. The document praises “the significant progress made by Ukraine on its path to EU membership” despite the ongoing conflict, progress that justifies launching the process of enlarging the European Union to include the Ukrainian Republic. On the merit-based path towards the EU, the joint statement highlights Ukraine’s progress so far in reforms.

The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has also confirmed the EU’s readiness to begin negotiations with Ukraine, stating that “it is clear that Ukraine is on the path to accession.” Precisely for this reason, she also explains ahead of the start of the informal European Council summit, “today we are also discussing how to accelerate this process“. The man concerned, Zelensky, looks on: “It does not depend on the decisions of the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people. We have already decided that we want to join the EU as quickly as possible.”

However, the Belgian Prime Minister is dampening enthusiasm and scaling back ambitions: “I do not consider Ukraine’s full membership to be realistic in the short term,” Bart De Wever states bluntly, convinced that “we must stick to a merit-based approach.” So, for Zelensky, “there can be no fast-track options.” Lithuania takes a similar line, with President Gitanas Nauseda being as clear on this as the Belgian leader: “Lithuania will always support a merit-based approach.” However, he adds, “countries that have made a great effort to implement reforms should become EU members as soon as possible.”

Estonia’s Prime Minister, Kristen Michal, is cautious but optimistic: “Ukraine knows that there are reforms and stages involved in becoming an EU member, but a fast-track approach to achieving this is something I very much welcome.” The French President, Emmanuel Macron, is more pragmatic: “I think what is important is that the European Commission can provide a precise timetable and the initiatives to be undertaken in the coming weeks for Ukraine and Moldova, which are awaiting the opening of these chapters.”

English version by the Translation Service of Withub