BRUSSELS, Belgium, May 21,( V7N )— German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed granting Ukraine “associate member” status in the EU without voting rights while Kyiv works through the lengthy full accession process, according to a letter seen by AFP Thursday.
The plan — first raised by Merz with EU counterparts last month — would allow Ukraine’s leader to attend bloc summits but not cast votes.
Under the proposal, Kyiv would have a representative at the European Commission, the EU’s executive, and non-voting members in the European Parliament.
The letter to EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa said the bloc’s mutual assistance clause would extend to Ukraine, and it could access parts of the EU budget.
“It is obvious that we will not be able to complete the accession process shortly, given the countless hurdles as well as the political complexities of ratification processes,” Merz wrote.
“What I envisage is a political solution that brings Ukraine substantially closer to the European Union and its core institutions immediately.”
Ukraine is pushing to accelerate its EU bid as it continues to fight Russia’s invasion.
Kyiv’s progress was previously blocked by Hungary’s former nationalist premier Viktor Orban, but his ouster by rival Peter Magyar has raised hopes for movement.
Merz’s plan could meet scepticism from both EU members and Ukraine. Kyiv fears that interim arrangements could leave it stuck in a “halfway house” and wants to maintain momentum toward full membership.
The German leader stressed he still wants Ukraine to become a “full member” and urged opening “all negotiation clusters” immediately. “It would not be a membership light,” he wrote.
Ukraine views EU membership as crucial to its future recovery and security, especially as the United States has effectively ruled out NATO accession.
END/WD/RH
