EU proposes accelerated “reverse membership” for Ukraine amid war pressures, bypassing standard accession protocols.
Proposal Context
The proposal addresses Ukraine’s unique situation following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 and political pressure to provide a concrete European perspective as part of future security guarantees. Brussels recognizes the standard, multi-year accession process is unrealistic under current conditions.
Ukraine’s potential 2027 EU membership is included in the US-Ukraine-EU 20-point peace plan as a stabilizing mechanism post-war. However, many member states deem this timeline unrealistic due to the detailed criteria requiring unanimous parliamentary approval and the complexities of ongoing war and infrastructure damage.
The “Reverse Membership” Model
This “reverse membership” concept involves formally admitting Ukraine early, then gradually granting full rights, including voting rights, as it progresses in implementing EU regulations. Ukraine, like other candidates, could be formally incorporated faster, accessing member rights incrementally based on adherence to community principles and required reforms.
Historical Precedents
Ukraine gained candidate status in June 2022, shortly after the invasion began. Accession negotiations are slated for late 2023, but past enlargements show the process is lengthy. For comparison, Poland, with a comparable population, took about 10 years under peaceful conditions to complete negotiations and legal changes, joining the EU in 2004 with nine other states.
Legal and Political Hurdles
EU officials note Ukraine lacks significant political time. A potential peace deal involving territorial losses would be extremely difficult for Ukrainian society to accept, especially via referendum. Limited membership could still offer crucial internal stability. However, this model raises serious legal and political questions, unprecedented in its scope, and would require unanimous approval from all 27 member states.
Officials emphasize the need for creative solutions to integrate Ukraine into European structures swiftly. A diplomat stated, “Ukraine should join the EU politically first, then gain full rights and membership upon meeting all conditions.” The discussion is nascent, with its outcome uncertain, but the war has forced the EU to consider previously unthinkable expansion scenarios.
