Against the backdrop of Russia's aggressive war, Ukraine's rapid accession to the EU is extremely important for the attacked country. The EU has a plan on how to accept Ukraine as early as 2027 - despite Orban's veto, writes "Politico".
The European Union is preparing a plan that would give Ukraine the opportunity for partial membership in the Community as early as 2027, reports "Politico", citing talks with its diplomatic sources. The plan envisages the country "getting a seat at the EU table before carrying out the reforms necessary for full membership," the publication writes.
"Bloomberg" Agency adds that Brussels envisages Ukraine's accession to the EU as part of a future peace treaty between Kiev and Moscow.
Admission to the EU in the reverse order
Volodymyr Zelensky has already commented that Kiev will strive for full membership as early as 2027. According to diplomatic sources, Brussels may begin Kiev's integration quickly, insisting that the country take all necessary steps for full accession in the reverse order - after it has already been accepted, without being fully integrated into the Community.
Ukraine received the status of a candidate country after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, and at the end of 2023 the start of accession negotiations was approved. The official negotiations were launched in 2024, but the process was blocked by Hungary, which prevented the opening of the so-called. negotiating chapters.
However, European leaders have a plan for how to deal with the obstacles on Ukraine's path to the EU. It includes five steps, writes "Politico" writer Zoya Sheftalovich: Ukraine should receive good preparation, create "light" EU membership, wait for Orban's withdrawal, play the "Trump" card, and if all else fails, take away Hungary's voting rights.
Main focus of the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU
Ukraine's potential accession to the EU is the focus of the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU. "Despite difficult circumstances, in the midst of ongoing Russian aggression, Ukraine is accelerating its reform efforts," commented to "Politico" Marilena Rauna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus.
Member states will work hard to familiarize Kiev with the individual points of the negotiation chapters, with the expectations that the authorities there will quickly implement the necessary reforms. "We will be technically prepared by 2027", President Zelensky is confident. "For us, the European Union is a guarantee of security."
The division of member states into two groups - fully integrated into EU structures and those that are in the process of integration, is well received by countries such as Albania and Moldova, which also expect to soon become part of the Community. Recently, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama commented to "Politico" that his country agrees to even temporarily not send a European Commissioner until it has completed all the steps. According to the publication's sources, however, Germany is currently opposed to the idea of creating several levels of membership.
The EU can neutralize Orban even if he is re-elected
However, all these efforts could prove futile if Viktor Orban wins the elections in April. The Hungarian prime minister has declared Ukraine an "enemy" and is considered the closest European leader to Vladimir Putin. However, even if the opposition in the person of Péter Magyar's "Tisza" party does not prevail, European leaders have a wild card, claims "Politico".
This wild card is called Donald Trump. Since the 2024 election campaign, Trump has claimed that he can stop the war in Ukraine, but so far he has not succeeded. The 20-point plan that the US developed together with its EU partners is a chance for the American president to fulfill his promise. If the only obstacle in front of him is Viktor Orban, who is considered a close ally of Trump, Washington can put pressure on him. According to media sources, this has already happened successfully with the imposition of the latest sanctions against Russia.
If that also fails, the Europeans are left with the "nuclear option" - Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union. It allows for the suspension of rights arising from membership in the European Union, including the right to vote in the Council of the European Union, "if a country seriously and persistently breaches the principles on which the EU is founded".
For now, Brussels does not plan to use this mechanism, "Politico" sources say, but it is on the table if Orban wins the elections in April and continues to block pan-European decisions.