Merz proposes initially integrating Ukraine into EU institutions without voting rights
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz considers it necessary to involve Ukraine more closely in the operational processes of the European Union, despite the fact that its rapid membership in the EU is impossible, Deutsche Welle reports.
Following the summit of EU heads of state and government in Nicosia (Cyprus), he cited as an example of such interaction the possible participation of the President of Ukraine in meetings of the European Council, though without voting rights for now, or through the gradual inclusion of Ukraine into specific policy areas depending on the state of reforms. The Chancellor reported that he has spoken about this repeatedly in recent days with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In general, Merz pointed to the need to launch a "process within the EU with a strategy of gradual rapprochement of Ukraine with the EU, at the end of which, of course, there must be full membership."
"But we need intermediate steps… It is important that this rapprochement now also accelerates accession negotiations and becomes a bridge to future full membership," he said.
