Thursday, May 21st 2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is pushing forward for Ukraine to receive a new special status as an “associate member” of the European Union (EU), in response to Kiev’s request for quick membership in the European bloc, reports Anadolu.
In a letter addressed to EU leaders, the conservative leader proposed the immediate and closer integration of Ukraine into EU institutions. However, initially she would not be given full membership or voting rights. Merz justified the initiative by citing the unique situation of Ukraine as a country at war and the significant progress achieved in membership negotiations.
According to him, the proposal aims to facilitate the peace talks initiated by the US President, Donald Trump, among other things, through a political commitment by the member states to apply the EU’s mutual assistance clause to Ukraine as well.
According to the letter, published by the German news agency news agency (DPA) from Brussels, the special status would send a strong political signal “that Ukraine and its citizens so urgently need in their ongoing struggle against Russian aggression”.
Meanwhile, Merz believes that Ukraine’s full EU membership in the short term remains unrealistic. The German chancellor cited “countless obstacles” and politically difficult ratification processes in some member states as reasons for this.
“It is clear that we cannot complete the membership process in the short term,” he wrote in a letter to EU Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Greek Cypriot administration president Nikos Christodoulides, who represents the Council presidency. The EU.
– Merz: There will be no easy membership
To ensure that rapid progress continues, Merz proposed that the EU negotiate “immediately and without delay” on all issues related to membership. He also suggested discussing the idea of ”associate membership,” which could be a decisive step on Ukraine’s path to full membership.
“It would not be an easy membership, but it would go far beyond the existing Association Agreement and further accelerate the membership process,” explained Merz. According to his vision, this special status could include the participation of Ukraine in the meetings of the European Council and the Council of the EU, but without the right to vote.
Also, according to Merz, a role as an associate member of the European Commission without portfolio and without the right to vote, associate members of the European Parliament without the right to vote, as well as an associate judge at the European Court of Justice in the form of an “assistant” could be considered. the rapporteur”.
Merz described the proposal as a political solution aimed at bringing Ukraine “significantly closer to the EU and its main institutions”. This, he said, would not replace the current membership negotiations, but rather promote and support them.
From the chancellor’s point of view, it is important that this does not require the ratification of an accession treaty under Article 49 of the EU Treaty, nor treaty amendments. Instead, he spoke simply of “a strong political agreement”.
Merz supported a step-by-step approach when it comes to adopting EU legislation and accessing EU programmes. Under this approach, Ukraine would not currently contribute to the EU budget, nor would it benefit from it in the same way as regular members. However, programs under direct management could be opened gradually, subject to safeguard clauses.
– The aim is a “substantial security guarantee”
A particularly broad part of the proposal concerned security policy. Chancellor Merz suggested that Ukraine fully harmonize its foreign and security policy with that of the EU.
At the same time, member states should make a political commitment to apply to Ukraine the mutual assistance clause under Article 42(7) of the EU Treaty, “in order to create a significant security guarantee”.
As a protective measure, Merz envisaged a reserve mechanism or alternatively a expiry clause in case Ukraine violates the EU’s fundamental values or if it backslides in membership negotiations.
Although the chancellor admitted that his proposal raises questions about political, technical and legal feasibility, he emphasized that these can be resolved if the special status is dealt with constructively. “My aim would be to reach an agreement soon and create a special working group to work out the details,” Merz wrote in the letter.
He said he looked forward to discussing his ideas with heads of state and government as well as top EU officials.
Source: prizrenpost
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