EPC: EU candidate status for Ukraine is a geopolitical and moral imperative
21 June 2022
On 17 June, the European Commission recommended that Ukraine (and Moldova) be granted EU candidate country status. At the next European Council, EU leaders should follow suit sans conditions. Not doing so would be a geopolitical and moral blunder.
A test of strength, character and strategic vision
On 17 June, the European Commission recommended that Ukraine (and Moldova) be granted EU candidate country status with the “understanding” that further reform steps are needed. This decision is of historical significance for both war-torn Ukraine and Europe.
Since
Mr Putin began his brutal war on 24 February, the Ukrainian people have
been fighting not only for their existence and sovereignty but also to
defend European values of democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms.
But this is a fight that actually started during the 2004 Orange
Revolution and through the 2013 Euromaidan protests.
Now that the Commission has given a positive recommendation, Ukraine should receive candidate country status without ex ante conditions at the upcoming European Council meeting on 23 and 24 June.
This
would send a strong signal that Ukraine is part of the EU family, not a
distant relative. It would be a huge morale boost for Ukrainians at a
critical juncture in the war. It would clarify the nature of the future
relationship between Kyiv and Brussels, as well as the direction of
Ukraine’s development in the medium and long terms.
What is more,
it will send a strong message to the Kremlin that the EU’s geopolitical
awakening is a reality and not just a myth. A failure to offer
candidate status would be a mistake and reveal a divided Europe
without a clear strategic direction. Indeed, this would be a gift to
Russia and other global actors that wish to overturn the current
international order. Once again, the EU would be speaking loudly but
acting timidly.
Finally, any step short of granting Ukraine candidate status could undermine transatlantic unity when it is needed more than ever to face Russia’s threat to Europe’s security.
The first step in a long journey
Candidate
country status is not a watertight guarantee of EU membership. Rather,
it is the first step on a long road of reform. There is no quick entry
or shortcut into the EU club. With the war still raging, Kyiv will
struggle to rapidly implement the totality of the accession criteria, or
the Copenhagen criteria.
But Ukraine is not starting from scratch. It is implementing an Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU since 2014. Large chunks of requirements have already been fulfilled successfully.
Many of the benchmarks involved are identical to the Copenhagen
criteria. As Commission President von der Leyen acknowledged, Ukraine
has already fulfilled 70% of EU rules, norms and standards.
While many challenges persist,
particularly on issues like corruption, judicial independence or the
undue influence of oligarchs, today’s Ukraine is a totally different
country from a decade ago. Indeed, Ukraine has made more progress in its reform path than some Western Balkan nations currently in EU membership negotiations.
Ukrainian
civil society also plays a vital role. Vibrant and robust civil society
activism and pressure have been crucial in Ukraine’s transformation and
European aspirations. Dynamic and resourceful at both the national and
local levels, civil society has acted as an important watchdog over the
government and will remain a driving force in the months and years
ahead. The reforms that Ukraine needs to undertake are not only part of
an EU checklist for membership; they are also in the interest of
Ukrainians.
No alternatives, no fudging
Confirming Ukraine as a candidate country requires the unanimous approval of the Union’s 27 leaders.
Despite
warm words of support and solidarity, some EU countries remain
reluctant. This reflects their longstanding, meagre political appetite
for widening the bloc, especially when the EU is already reeling from multiple crises and its enlargement policy is no longer fit for purpose. France and Germany finally signalled their support for Ukraine’s “immediate candidate status” during a visit to Kyiv on 16 June, and the Netherlands seems to be getting on board. Meanwhile, other countries like Denmark and Portugal remain sceptical....
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