Germany’s Merz Pitches ‘Associate’ EU Membership for Ukraine

Brussels/Berlin,— German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed granting Ukraine a new status of “associate member” of the European Union as an interim step toward full membership.
In a letter to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, Merz suggested that Ukraine could participate in EU summits and ministerial meetings without voting rights while continuing its accession process.
The proposal aims to bring Ukraine closer to the bloc politically and economically during the lengthy reform period required for full membership, which remains years away due to ongoing war with Russia and the need for major institutional changes.fe2fca
Merz stressed that he continues to support Ukraine’s eventual full membership in the EU. The “associate membership” status — which does not currently exist under EU rules — could also include a non-voting Ukrainian associate commissioner, representatives in the European Parliament without voting power, and potential access to certain EU funds.
Ukraine has been an official EU candidate since 2022, with accession negotiations formally opened in 2024. However, experts say full membership could take until the 2030s because of required alignment with EU laws, anti-corruption reforms, and unanimous approval from all 27 member states.
Merz’s initiative is seen as a pragmatic approach to maintain momentum on enlargement while acknowledging current realities. The proposal may also be extended to Moldova and Western Balkan countries to revitalize the EU’s enlargement policy.