Bumpy Road of Ukraine Towards the EU Membership in Time of War: “Accession Through War” v “Gradual Integration”

Abstract

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2023 8(3), 1057-1065 | European Forum Insight of 27 December 2023 | (Table of Contents) I. Introduction - II. The Impact of the War on the Accession Process of Ukraine - III. Peace Deal as a decisive factor for Ukraine’s Accession to the EU - IV. Impact of Ukraine’s future membership on the EU and its policies - V. Concluding remarks. | (Abstract) The candidate country status for Ukraine was justified and widely supported by the EU institutions and EU Member States because of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, Ukraine’s accession to the EU is not going to be an easy ride. It is the first case in history of EU integration when a candidate country that fights for its sovereignty and existence is endeavoring to meet strict conditions of the EU membership. This situation brings to both the EU and Ukraine difficult choices and challenges. For Ukraine it is essential to secure a just and lasting peace deal with Russia, to end the hostilities and to be able to complete the meticulous EU accession process. For the EU it is urgent to adjust its institutional, legal, political and economic systems to absorb a new wave of enlargement that may bring 10 new Member States on board. This Insight advocates that Ukraine’s accession to the EU will not be conventional but an experimental exercise that embraces new accession tracks like “accession through war” and “gradual integration”.

Keywords

• eu accession
• candidate country
• ukraine
• accession through war
• gradual integration
• peace deal for ukraine