Ukraine ready to delay some benefits to speed up accession to EU

Ukraine is ready to postpone receiving some benefits from the European Union in order to accelerate the accession process.

Source: Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, in an interview with Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In particular, Kachka said Ukraine is ready to delay receiving subsidies under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for several years to ease concerns about one of the EU's largest and most politically sensitive programmes.

Quote: "It was from the very beginning very clear; we stated even in our paper that the interest of joining the EU [...] lead to the consciousness on our side that we cannot wait for years to agree on modalities of joining the CAP. We propose from this start that we may join the CAP later, maybe eventually next generation, not the generation that is discussed now.

This kind of approach is possible, but let's start discussing modalities."

Details: Ukraine has already had disputes with EU countries, including Poland, over the EU's easing of trade restrictions on Kyiv's agricultural exports. If Ukraine joins the EU, it will also become eligible for substantial CAP benefits, which would further complicate one of the most contentious issues in negotiations over the EU budget.

Kachka stressed that Ukraine is ready to meet EU requirements quickly and aims to sign an accession treaty as early as next year, depending on progress.

He said that after that, EU member states would need several more years to ratify Ukraine's membership.

Background:

• France and Germany are considering proposals to give Ukraine "symbolic" benefits during the EU accession process, without granting Kyiv access to the EU's common budget or voting rights before full membership.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated earlier that Kyiv is not interested in partial EU membership, just as Europe would not want a limited version of the Ukrainian military.
• The EU has not closed discussions on the possibility of Ukraine joining in 2027, although there is currently no agreed outline of this process.

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