EU prepares temporary privileges package for Ukraine instead of accelerated accession – Politico

The European Union is developing a package of temporary privileges for Ukraine that would grant broader access to the EU market and institutions without immediate full membership.

Source: Politico, Brussels-based politics and policy news organisation, citing four diplomats familiar with the discussions

Details: The new proposal comes after EU leaders rejected the European Commission's idea of "reverse enlargement", which would have allowed Ukraine to join before completing key reforms. Instead, Brussels is considering a model of "accelerated gradual integration", aimed at giving Ukraine tangible benefits now while it continues implementing the reforms required for membership.

"Member states have been clear it would be very difficult to see membership in the short term," one diplomat said.

"But we need to have a positive offer for how we can better move forward together before then," they added.

Politico reported that Germany and France are actively involved in shaping the new proposal.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week that fast-track membership for Ukraine was not feasible. Meanwhile, he proposed allowing Kyiv to participate in European Council meetings without voting rights and to take part in certain European Parliament formats.

For its part, Lithuania has proposed granting Ukraine an intermediate status of "acceding state". Previously, this status was given to countries that had already signed accession treaties and were awaiting ratification.

The document states that Ukraine's case "shows its European path has reached a level of stability and direction that merits similar recognition".

Meanwhile, Ukraine is insisting on concrete economic support.

Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine's Ambassador to the EU, said Kyiv is seeking "phased access to the EU Single Market linked to progress on reforms, deeper participation in EU programs and institutions, and swift progress on agreements like ACAA [Agreements on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Goods ] to facilitate trade".

This agreement would allow Ukrainian industrial goods to move across EU borders without additional checks. Ukraine is also asking to involve its businesses in discussions on the European Commission's industrial strategy in sectors such as automotive manufacturing, metallurgy and the chemical industry.

Chentsov noted that such steps would bring "immediate economic benefits" and strengthen investor confidence, while making Ukraine's path to the EU mutually beneficial even before full membership.

European officials stress that the new package of privileges will not replace the formal accession process. According to EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, expectations of Ukraine joining the EU as a full member by 2027 remain "impossible". However, Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, said he expects formal negotiating clusters to be opened in the "coming weeks".

A senior European Council official noted that Ukraine could close negotiating clusters by the end of 2027 only if the current pace of reforms is maintained.

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