Merz’s idea of special status for Ukraine in the EU backed in Europe

Manfred Weber, chairman of the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament, has expressed support for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal to grant Ukraine a special status in the European Union.

This was reported by the n-tv channel, citing Weber’s interview with the Funke media group.

Weber called the initiative “creative and positive.” According to him, a country with an experienced army and defense technologies will become a security asset.

On May 21, Merz proposed granting Ukraine a special status as an intermediate step toward EU membership. Under the chancellor’s plan, the status of “associate member” would allow Ukrainian officials to participate in EU summits and ministerial meetings, but without voting rights.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously rejected the idea of “symbolic” or partial EU membership. According to him, Ukraine deserves full membership, since it “is defending Europe not symbolically, but in reality.”