EU "Decision to Grant Ukraine EU Candidate Status Next Month"

Even After Securing Candidate Status, It May Take Years
Macron: "Let's Create a Separate European Political Community"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The European Union (EU) announced that it will officially begin the EU accession process for Ukraine next month, first granting it candidate status for EU membership and then entering negotiations for formal accession. However, since obtaining candidate status still requires unanimous approval from all member states, which is expected to take considerable time, there are also calls to create a separate political community.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 9th (local time), Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, posted on her Twitter account that "The European Commission will present its opinion on Ukraine's EU membership application next month," adding, "Following discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the recent G7 summit, today we discussed support for Ukraine's accession at the European Parliament."

If the European Commission subsequently issues a positive opinion on Ukraine's accession request and all 27 member states approve, Ukraine will first be granted candidate status and then enter full negotiations for formal membership. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy applied for EU membership on February 28, just four days after the outbreak of the war. Typically, it takes several years from application to securing candidate status, but Ukraine has completed this process in just over three months.

However, it is still expected that Ukraine will have to undergo rigorous negotiations to become an EU member. To join the EU, a country must establish a democratic system with separation of powers, guarantee human rights, and provide protections for minorities. It must also ensure a market economy and fair competition, adopt the EU legal framework, and participate in the Economic and Monetary Union.

Due to these constraints and concerns about delays in Ukraine’s EU accession, there are proposals to create a separate political community. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on the same day, stated, "It will take decades for candidate countries like Ukraine to join the EU," and proposed "creating a broader political community among democratic countries in Europe."

President Macron said, "Even if we grant Ukraine candidate status tomorrow, we know well that it will take years, or in reality decades, before they actually join us," emphasizing the urgency of providing a place within Europe for countries aspiring to join the EU, including Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, and called for the establishment of a 'European Political Community.'"