German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attend a joint news conference during a post-war reconstruction of Ukraine conference in Berlin, Germany, October 25, 2022. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed granting Ukraine a special status as an EU “associate member,” allowing Ukrainian officials to participate in meetings of the bloc’s governing institutions without voting rights.
In his proposal, Merz emphasized that such a step would be necessary amid ongoing hostilities in eastern Ukraine and could facilitate peace talks with U.S. mediation. He stated this arrangement would go beyond the 2014 Association Agreement and accelerate Ukraine’s integration process.
Merz expressed doubt that Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations would conclude any time soon, calling it “unrealistic” to complete the process in the short term. However, he argued for innovative solutions to expedite membership while preserving European institutional integrity. The German leader also suggested extending a similar status to Albania, the Czech Republic, and Moldova—nations seeking EU membership. Merz acknowledged his proposal would raise questions but stressed these could be addressed through negotiations.
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