German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed granting Ukraine a direct role in European Union structures as an intermediate step toward EU membership, which he said could help facilitate a deal to end the war caused by Russia's invasion, Reuters reports, according to UNN.
Details
In a letter to EU leaders seen by Reuters, Merz proposed granting Ukraine a new status of "associated member," which would allow Ukrainian officials to participate in EU summits and ministerial meetings, but without voting rights.
The German leader also suggested that EU members take a "political commitment" to apply the bloc's mutual assistance clause to Ukraine "with the aim of creating a substantial security guarantee."
"Analysts believe a clear path to the EU could be vital for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in convincing Ukrainians of the need for a peace settlement, especially if, as expected, Ukraine does not regain control over all its territory or join the NATO military-political alliance," the publication states.
But European officials say it is unrealistic for Ukraine to achieve full membership in the bloc within the next few years, even though 2027 was mentioned in a 20-point peace plan discussed between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia, the newspaper writes.
Merz's proposal is an attempt to find a middle ground between rapid accession and Ukraine's current status as a candidate country at the initial stage of the process.
"My proposal reflects the special situation of Ukraine, a country at war. It will help facilitate ongoing peace talks as part of a negotiated peace solution," Merz wrote, adding that it is "important not only for Ukraine's security but also for the security of the entire continent."
The process of joining the bloc is typically long and bureaucratic, involving detailed negotiations and legal reforms to meet the EU's democratic and economic standards.
EU accession requires the agreement and ratification of each of the bloc's 27 members, which can lead to significant obstacles.
In his letter, Merz outlined the benefits Ukraine could receive as an "associated member," a category that does not exist under current EU rules.
These potential benefits include a non-voting Ukrainian associate commissioner in the European Commission and non-voting representatives in the European Parliament.
The German Chancellor wrote that a "snap-back mechanism" or a "sunset clause" could be introduced in case Ukraine backslides on rule of law standards or the EU accession process.
He stated that this proposal would not affect other candidate countries and suggested the bloc "consider innovative solutions" for those who have long been working toward EU accession.
Merz said he plans to discuss his ideas with European leaders.
"My goal is to reach an agreement in the near future and create a special working group to work out the details," he wrote.
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