European Union grants candidate status to Ukraine – What’s next?

Europe, News June 24, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

A major breakthrough came for Ukraine’s long-term quest to join the European Union on June 24 as the leaders of 27 EU countries provided a unanimous approval to grant candidate status to Ukraine.

During a meeting of the European Council in Brussels, the member states mustered the required unanimous approval for Ukraine to proceed into the initial phase of its road to join the EU. However, in order to become a complete member of the European Union, Ukraine would have to make several economic and political reforms as well as come out of war, which could take years.

Apart from Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia’s application was also approved by the EU leaders. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on her Twitter that “Very pleased with the Leaders’ endorsement of our opinions. Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia all have work to do before moving to the next stage of the process.”

“This decision strengthens us all. It strengthens Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, in the face of Russian imperialism. And it strengthens the EU. Because it shows once again to the world that we are united and strong in the face of external threats,” she added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted his gratitude by stating that, “Ukraine’s future is within the EU.” He also said that he “sincerely commends” the European Council’s decision, calling it “a unique and historical moment in EU/Ukraine relations.”

The decision comes only days after President of the European Commission Ursula von Der Leyen said it was the opinion of the bloc’s executive body that Ukraine deserved candidate status because it “has clearly demonstrated the country’s aspiration and the country’s determination to live up to European values and standards.”

Before Ukraine can start formal negotiations to join the bloc, the war-torn country must meet the Copenhagen criteria, which is an opaque set of requirements focused on whether or not a country has a functioning free-market economy, whether its institutions are fit to uphold European values such as human rights and rule of law, and whether it has a functioning, inclusive democracy. It seems highly unlikely that Ukraine would be able to meet all the requirements any time soon, especially amid the ongoing war.

*^{EU leaders holding meeting at the European Council Hall in Brussels, Belgium. (Image Credit: Twitter/@vonderleyen)}*

Once the Copenhagen criteria is met all members states would start talks with the incoming member on 35 negotiation chapters. These chapters range from law to civil society and economic structure of the applicant country. Ukraine then must make local reforms in order to meet the required standards for each of the 35 chapters. All EU member states must acknowledge that all the said requirements have been met before closing each chapter.

After the Copenhagen criteria is approved by all other members of the bloc, the European Parliament and legislative agendas would approve the decision and, finally, Ukraine would become an EU member state.

Based on the previous memberships, the average time it took for a country to become a full EU member was about four years and 10 months. The quickest to negotiate accession to EU were Austria, Finland and Sweden, in just under two years, whereas some Eastern European states had to wait 10 years before they could become a full member.

Considering the ongoing war in Ukraine and its effects on the country’s economy and political structure, it would take much more than the average time to join the European Union as a full member.