Kachka says Merz letter keeps Ukraine on track for full EU membership
According to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is calling in his letter for all negotiation clusters to be opened immediately. (Photo: NV)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s letter on Ukraine’s
possible “associate membership” reaffirms Kyiv’s path to full European Union
membership, Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka said, Ukrinform
reported.
Kachka made the remarks at a briefing after the 11th meeting
of the Ukrainian-Polish intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation.
He said Merz’s letter calls for all negotiation clusters to
be opened immediately, removing the main risk that the proposal could become an
alternative to Ukraine’s full EU membership.
“The issue set out in Chancellor Merz’s letter to European
Union institutions is complex. The most important point in this letter is the
emphasis on Ukraine’s full membership in the European Union and the call for
the immediate and urgent opening of all clusters in the negotiations. For us,
this is the most important goal today,” Kachka said.
Kachka also said Merz’s letter makes clear that all the
ideas it contains are meant to help Ukraine integrate as quickly as possible
and move toward full EU membership in whatever format is agreed.
“So the main risk that this is about some potential
alternatives has been removed,” Kachka said.
Spiegel reported on May 21 that German Chancellor Friedrich
Merz proposed in a letter to EU leaders that Ukraine be granted a special
“associate member” status in the European Union, with expanded rights and
security guarantees before full accession to the bloc.
Merz’s proposed “associate member” status would provide
broader rights and obligations than those given to candidate countries under
the standard accession process, including:
- Ukraine’s participation and voting rights at meetings of the
Council of the EU and the European Council, as well as participation without
voting rights in the work of the European Commission and the European
Parliament;
- gradual integration into the EU budget;
- application of Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union
on mutual defense and assistance to provide Ukraine with additional security
guarantees;
- a seat at the Court of Justice of the EU with the position
of assistant rapporteur, the lowest judicial post.
Ukraine’s EU accession
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on May 11 that all
six negotiation clusters for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union could be
opened as early as this summer.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly stressed that
Ukraine expects to join the European Union by 2027. He has also rejected the
idea of “symbolic” advantages for Ukraine, saying Kyiv deserves full membership
in the European Union.
At the same time, several countries have opposed “shortcuts”
to accession, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, as well as
Poland and Hungary. They stress that a candidate country must meet strict
criteria, including on the rule of law and the fight against corruption.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said on
March 24 that Ukraine would not be able to become an EU member in 2027.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
