Ukraine will not be able to join the EU in 2027: European Commissioner makes statement
15 February 01:12
Ukraine will not be able to become a member of the European Union on January 1, 2027, according to the current methodology. Brussels is considering the possibility of applying a “geopolitical approach” to speed up the process.
This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing statements by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković at the Ukrainian Lunch in Munich, organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.
The European Commission’s position on the timing
Marta Kos stressed that the current accession rules, which have been in place for decades, do not allow for Ukraine’s accession in the next two years. At the same time, she emphasized the need to find new solutions.
“Based on the current EU enlargement methodology, Ukraine’s accession to the EU on January 1, 2027, is not possible. But we have to find a way to bridge the gap between the accession process, based on the achievements of candidate countries, and geopolitical challenges,” Kos said.
According to her, the issue goes beyond the usual enlargement procedure.
“It is about something much bigger – the unification of Europe. If we do everything right, we will be able to achieve a united Europe for the first time,” she stressed.
The “big bang” and risks for the EU
The Croatian prime minister noted that the standard path requires the approval of each step by all member states, which is a lengthy process. However, the situation may change if there is political will.
“A fast-track approach to accession is possible, but it will require a political decision to say: what we did before is in the past, what we are doing now is a geopolitical approach, a ‘big bang’,” Plenković explained.
At the same time, he called for caution, given the scale of the Ukrainian economy, particularly the agricultural sector.
“This can be done in a creative way, but it is an extremely complex and delicate process that should not be taken for granted. Ukraine’s accession should not cause imbalances in the European Union,” Plenković added.
Date of accession in question
Recall that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously stated that Ukraine seeks to obtain a specific date for accession to the bloc, stressing that the country deserves clarity in this process.
It has also become known that the EU is preparing a number of options for including Ukraine’s membership in the future peace agreement. In particular, it may be gradual and provide for preliminary protection for Kyiv.
