Merz's plan of 'associate EU membership' for Ukraine gets mixed reviews
Euronews.com • • world
Key Points:
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed granting Ukraine an "associate membership" in the EU, allowing access to decision-making bodies without voting rights and phased access to EU funds, aiming to provide security guarantees against Russian aggression.
- The proposal has met mixed reactions in Brussels, with diplomats questioning its legal feasibility and timing, and skepticism about bypassing treaty changes required for such a status.
- The European Commission welcomed Merz's plan as a sign of strong commitment to enlargement, emphasizing the importance of a merit-based accession process and viewing Ukraine's EU integration as a geostrategic investment.
- Merz's letter arrives amid hopes to lift Hungary's veto on Ukraine's accession, with ongoing talks addressing minority rights issues; however, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has rejected symbolic membership offers, insisting on full integration.
- The EU aims to open the first negotiation cluster with Ukraine by June, but the broader debate on accession terms and political consensus among member states remains unresolved.