The real reason Ukraine won’t be joining the EU any time soon
The TelegraphFeb 02, 2023
Following the first EU-Ukraine summit since the start of the invasion, held in Kyiv on Friday, European Union officials have stated that "Ukraine's future is in the EU," while European Commission Pres. Ursula von der Leyen praised Ukraine for the reforms it has implemented as it aims to join the EU.
However, although Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made the case for a speedy acceptance of its application, EU officials refused to be drawn into discussing timelines. One senior EU diplomat told the Guardian "there is no fast track." The path for any candidate country is a long one," they added, continuing: "Ukraine is no exception here."
The EU may want Kyiv to become a member state, but the prospect of Ukraine's membership generates a myriad of challenges for the bloc concerning money and constitutional reform. The change could see the EU on the hook for hundreds of billions of euros in funding and aid for Ukraine — an unattractive prospect even when the hopeful nation isn't experiencing immediate conflict. Kyiv can't just skip the queue ahead of nations like Turkey, it must face the stringent but necessary application process in full.
While lengthy reform is needed in both Ukraine and the EU before Kyiv can join the bloc, member states must avoid dragging their feet over enlargement policy. It may be perceived by some as "jumping the line," but the current conflict and Ukraine's recent sacrifices justify its place as a priority for EU membership. Funding from the bloc is not just an irritation for Western countries — it will make them integral to the reinvigoration of Ukraine's economy and infrastructure and tie Kyiv closer to the West. Safety and prosperity in Ukraine benefits the whole EU.
There is a 40% chance that Ukraine will join the EU before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.