In a letter to EU leaders, obtained by Reuters, Merz proposed creating a new status of “associate member” for Ukraine. This status would allow Ukrainian officials to participate in EU summits and ministerial meetings, but without the right to vote. “We have no time for further delays,” Merz wrote in the letter to European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. “Now is the time for Ukraine’s EU integration to proceed boldly through innovative solutions, as immediate steps forward,” the letter said.
Merzi had discussed these ideas with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders during an informal summit in Cyprus in April. “My goal is to reach an agreement soon,” he wrote, emphasizing that this would not simply be a facilitated form of membership.
According to the German plan, the new model would allow Ukraine to have a European Commissioner without portfolio and without voting rights, associated representatives in the European Parliament without voting rights, as well as the right to address important EU meetings. In parallel, Ukraine would continue the path towards full membership by implementing internal reforms, especially in the rule of law and minority rights. Meanwhile, under this plan, countries such as Moldova and the Western Balkan states would not receive associate member status, but only a lower status as observers in EU institutions.
“We can imagine regular joint sessions of the European Commission or the European Parliament, with the participation of representatives of the Western Balkan countries,” a German official said.
These countries would also be offered greater access to EU programmes and common market sectors as they progress with internal reforms, as part of a gradual integration process. It was reported yesterday that five EU countries have proposed a “step-by-step” membership model for the Western Balkans.