Brussels is developing proposals to abandon the European Union accession system, in place since the Cold War, to replace it with a two-stage model that could accelerate Ukraine’s entry into the EU in the event of a peace agreement aimed at ending the Russian invasion, writes the Financial Times, cited by BBC News.
The reform plan, under discussion at the European Commission level, although preliminary, is already causing concerns in the capitals of EU member states, alarmed by the “simplified” approach to expansion, which could have significant consequences for the community bloc, notes sources involved in the negotiations.
Such a model could offer Kiev the formal status of a member state, but without full voting rights at leaders’ summits and ministerial meetings. At the same time, from the first stage, Ukraine could benefit from gradual access to the EU’s single market, agricultural subsidies, and development funds.
The initiative comes in the context of discussions regarding a plan proposed by the United States to end the war in Ukraine. The 20-point plan projects mentioned the possibility of Ukraine joining the European Union in 2027. However, at the level of the European Commission, it is considered that full alignment with the accession criteria could require up to 10 years of reforms, reports RBC-Ukraine.