How Ukraine can strengthen the European Union

      Ukraine’s application for European Union membership, submitted on February 28, 2022, is the logical result of decades of cooperation with the bloc. Previously, Ukraine and the EU had deepened their cooperation through the Association Agreement; it was signed and ratified in 2014 and entered into force in 2017. Ukraine’s candidacy application got mixed reception throughout the EU, but with the rigorous review and approval of the European Commission, the candidacy was then greenlighted by heads of all EU states. However, some leaders like Macron (France) and Scholz (Germany) seem to be hesitant about promising Ukraine full membership, citing that the process might take 15 or 20 years. While the process is meritocratic and based on aligning the standards with the EU, it also requires the political agreement of each of the current member-states.

How can Ukraine strengthen the EU?

      Ukraine is a country of some 40 million people with abundant natural resources and hard-working and creative people. While it is true that common economic indicators like GDP per capita might seem rather low compared to some EU countries, that should not be the reason to reject Ukraine. The biggest European country has all the reasons to turn into a regional leader not least due to its contribution to European security amid the Russian invasion. Josep Borell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, called the EU to revamp its security through a quick response unit of five thousand soldiers and bigger cooperation within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The second reason why Ukraine would be a great addition to the EU is its social and human capital and the prospects for growth. In particular, Ukraine’s IT sector is efficient and has immense potential. In the first quarter of 2022, the revenue of the industry is 28 percent higher than the equivalent period of 2021 despite the war. Also, many Ukrainian students get their degrees in European Union countries and can bring that experience back to Ukraine. Third, according to the estimates of the US International Trade Administration, Ukraine is a country that is home to 900 billion cubic meters of proven reserves of natural gas, second place in Europe; the state possesses five percent of the world’s known natural resources. Coupled with the social capital and the rebuilding of the country due to the destruction inflicted by the Russian Federation, Ukraine has a chance to emulate the industrial and digital success of countries like Poland. To this end, Ukraine is developing a Reconstruction Roadmap. Also, important reforms particularly concerning ease of doing business are underway. For example, Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation is modernizing Ukraine’s services to eliminate corruption and facilitate paying taxes, filing declarations, using identity documents and so much more. Ukraine’s reforms since 2014 are impressive; devastated by the war, the country needs investments and is ready to gain more trust by implementing more reforms. Among other reasons, Ukraine has a fascinating culture and hospitable people who day by day fight for the same values of democracy and freedom that the EU is all about.

You can also read: How the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Affects Global Food Security

Why do statements about long accession hurt the EU itself?

       The last two decades have been complicated for the EU. They include the Russian war in Georgia, the migration crisis, the annexation of Crimea, Brexit, the passing of undemocratic laws in Poland and Hungary, and finally, the war in Ukraine. Macron’s newly concocted “political confederation” idea seems more like a politically incongruous substitute for the EU for the future members which is supposed to provide prospects of membership through enhanced political cooperation. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister instantly declared that no surrogates will be welcome by Ukraine, which wants the real deal – EU membership. The EU has united around the war in Ukraine and the Russian-caused humanitarian crisis. However, the cracks are still apparent and they can be seen in how Russia diluted the EU’s political arena through right-wing politicians taking Russian money and implicitly siding with Russia. Some scholars think that even pro-EU candidates like Macron are afraid to lose political power within the EU to Poland and Ukraine. Extending a hand to Ukraine in this hard time and acknowledging the passing of reforms and Ukraine’s display of European values through sheer bravery and love for freedom, the EU can reinvent itself and remember what it means to be European. Ukraine’s work on reforms and alignment with the accession criteria called acquis communitaire will strengthen Europe. For that, the EU leaders must show a firm position about Ukraine’s future membership. Hesitation and unjustified delays might alienate pro-EU sentiments and put into question the EU’s credibility, something North Macedonia has been experiencing recently.

      Ukraine repeatedly demonstrates to Europe what it means to be European, to desire, to love freedom and independence, and to be willing to fight for it no matter the odds. Ukraine deserves to officially join the European family: not because it is merely located in Europe, but because it is the avant-garde of everything Europe believes itself to be.

References

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Clarkson, A., (2022). France is afraid of losing power in the EU. Twitter. Available at: https://twitter.com/APHClarkson/status/1528465587692875776 

European Parliament (2019). Failure to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia is a mistake. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20191021IPR64717/failure-to-open-accession-talks-with-albania-and-north-macedonia-is-a-mistake

Herszenhorn, D., Burchard, H. & Baume, M. (2022). Macron floats European 'community' open to Ukraine and UK. POLITICO. Available at: https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-proposes-european-political-community-as-alternative-to-eu-membership/

International Trade Administration (2022). Energy Resource Guide - Ukraine - Oil and Gas. Available at: https://www.trade.gov/energy-resource-guide-ukraine-oil-and-gas

Metsola, R. (2022). Stand with Ukraine. European Parliament Press. Available at: https://ukraine.europarl.europa.eu/en/metsola-granting-candidate-status-to-ukr/products-details/20220623CAN66411

National Institute for Strategic Studies of Ukraine, (2022). Ukraine’s EU Application: A new paradigm for EU enlargement? Available at: https://niss.gov.ua/en/news/komentari-ekspertiv/ukraines-eu-application-new-paradigm-eu-enlargement 

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Tallis, B., (2022). Ukraine doesn't need half-measures from the EU. Foreign Policy. Available at: https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/04/07/ukraine-eu-membership/

Turp-Balazs, C. et al., 2022. Ukraine's remarkable tech sector continues to deliver. Emerging Europe. Available at: https://emerging-europe.com/business/ukraines-remarkable-tech-sector-continues-to-deliver/ 

Ukraine Crisis Center, (2022). Why the EU membership is vital for Ukraine. Available at: https://uacrisis.org/en/ukraine-in-flames-71 

Oleksandr Seredyuk is a Ukraini