Merz proposes giving Ukraine “associate member” status in the EU without voting rights

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed granting Ukraine a special “associate member” status in the European Union, which would allow the country’s representatives to participate in the work of the bloc’s governing institutions without voting rights.

This was reported by the DPA news agency, citing a letter from the German government’s head to EU leadership.

Merz considered Ukraine’s accession to the European Union in the near term to be unrealistic. He explained the need for a special status by the exceptional circumstances arising from the fighting in the east of the country, as well as the “significant progress” made in negotiations on Kyiv’s integration.

According to the chancellor’s plan, the special status would send a “powerful political signal” to the people of Ukraine and would also facilitate peace negotiations mediated by the United States. It is also envisaged, among other things, that the EU member states’ mutual defense obligation would be extended to Ukraine.

“This would not be a simplified version of EU membership, but something more than the existing association agreement, and it would accelerate the accession process,” the message states.

Under Merz’s proposal, Ukrainian representatives within the new status would be able to participate in the work of all the bloc’s key bodies — the European Commission, the European Council, the Council of the EU, the European Parliament, and the Court of Justice of the EU — but without voting rights. The chancellor stressed that such a status would not replace the process of Ukraine’s full accession to the EU, but would help advance it.

The procedural aspect of the matter is also significant: unlike the standard procedure for joining the bloc, granting “associate member” status does not require approval from the parliaments of EU member states.

Earlier, Merz stated that Europe would increase pressure on Russia with the aim of initiating negotiations on Ukraine.