German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed granting Ukraine a special form of “associate membership” in the European Union that would allow Kyiv to participate in key EU institutions before completing the full accession process.
According to a letter sent by Merz to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, Ukraine would be able to attend EU summits and ministerial meetings, while also receiving representation within the European Commission and the European Parliament, though without voting rights.
Merz argued that Ukraine’s path toward full EU membership remains complicated and lengthy because of political and legal obstacles tied to the accession process.
“It is obvious that we will not be able to complete the accession process shortly, given the countless hurdles as well as the political complexities of ratification processes,” the German chancellor wrote. “What I envisage is a political solution that brings Ukraine substantially closer to the European Union and its core institutions immediately.”
Under the proposal, Ukraine would also benefit from parts of the EU budget and fall under the bloc’s mutual assistance clause, strengthening its political and security ties with Europe while the war with Russia continues.
