The future of European Integration of Ukraine
What are the potential paths for Ukraine to gain EU membership? A policy brief emphasizes the concept of ‘staged integration’, which allows Ukraine to progressively acquire the benefits of membership, in line with necessary reforms and standards. Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine complicates its aspirations to join both the EU and NATO. Obtaining membership in these institutions is challenging, requiring consent from all member states. For Ukraine, this process could be more complicated than joining NATO, considering the extensive impacts on the EU.
Key points of policy brief:
- Critical factors influencing Eastern European integration are mainly EU’s own reform support, establishing a clear plan and realistic expectations for the process and financial support for Ukraine.
- The inclusion of a country as large as Ukraine would significantly alter the EU’s financial distributions and key policies.
- The role of countries from the former Soviet bloc as mediators and models, and the need for a clear timeline for EU expansion were also emphasized.
Policy brief – January 2024, Karel Sál
Full brochure in PDF under the link below.
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