Ukraine's EU accession talks could start within weeks — Bloomberg
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, António Costa, and Ursula von der Leyen (Getty Images)
Negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union could begin in the coming weeks, but they certainly won’t be easy or quick, according to Bloomberg.
According to an EU official who wished to remain anonymous, EU leaders agreed at the summit in Cyprus that the first accession talks with Ukraine could begin in the coming weeks and months.
At the same time, he notes that any commitments regarding the date of Ukraine’s accession to the EU remain out of reach. For example, the membership process for Croatia, the last country to join, took about ten years.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine deserved full membership, rejecting proposals for an alternative path to the EU.
Despite agreeing to begin negotiations, most member states have little interest in expediting the application process, which typically takes many years. Kyiv’s membership application is particularly sensitive due to concerns about its potential impact on the bloc’s budget, as well as on the agricultural and transport sectors.
Concerns that member states would not support a fast-track accession process intensified after Germany drafted a proposal that would grant Ukraine associated membership in the EU while simultaneously advancing the accession process.
Under this plan, Ukraine would gradually integrate into EU programs and participate in bloc meetings, but would not have voting rights.
EU membership options
Germany and France recently proposed a so-called light membership format for Ukraine. This option would provide certain symbolic privileges and a mutual defense clause, but would not grant Kyiv a voting right within the bloc.
For his part, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha sharply rejected the possibility of phased membership, emphasizing that Ukraine was rapidly fulfilling all requirements for full integration.
At the same time, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Taras Kachka, noted that to speed up the process, Kyiv was prepared to temporarily forego certain EU economic benefits to avoid conflicts with its neighbors.
