“It is clear that immediate membership for Ukraine is, of course, impossible,” Merz said after a summit of EU leaders in Nicosia, Cyprus, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported.
Merz said he wants to “ensure closer integration” of Ukraine into European institutions. As an example, he suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could be allowed to attend European Council meetings without voting rights, or that Ukraine could be gradually brought into specific policy areas depending on the pace of its reforms.
Merz called for a “process and a strategy of gradual rapprochement of Ukraine with the EU,” saying the process should ultimately lead to full membership but must include interim steps.
“I have spoken about this in recent days with President Zelenskyy. ... It is important that this rapproachement now also accelerates accession talks and becomes a bridge to eventual full membership,” he said.
On April 20, the Financial Times reported that
Germany and France had proposed granting Ukraine symbolic benefits during
accession preparations, including participation in ministerial and leaders’
meetings without voting rights and without automatic access to EU economic assistance
programs.