Merz Rules Out 2027 as Target Date for Ukraine’s EU Accession
We have told the Americans that “Ukraine's accession on January 1, 2027, is out of the question. It is not possible. All members—including Ukraine—who wish to join the European Union at a later date must meet the Copenhagen criteria,” Merz said at a press briefing in Berlin.
The Copenhagen criteria, established in 1993, outline the key political, economic, and legislative requirements a country must satisfy to join the EU. These include stable democratic institutions, a functioning market economy, and the ability to align with EU laws.
“The processes usually take several years. Ukraine must have the prospect of becoming a member of the European Union, but this is a long-term process,” he added.
Merz emphasized that Ukraine’s current priority should be negotiations with the US and Russia in Abu Dhabi, while expressing cautious optimism about a potential agreement.
Russia and Ukraine held discussions on Friday and Saturday regarding possible peace settlement options, with US mediation.
Ukraine applied for EU membership shortly after the war with Russia began in 2022 and has sought accelerated integration as a means of security.
“Ukraine’s accession to the European Union is one of the key security guarantees not only for us, but also for all of Europe,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on social media following a recent conversation with the Austrian Chancellor. “That is why we are speaking about a concrete date – 2027 – and we count on partners’ support for our position,” he added.
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