Germany's Merz proposes EU task force on Ukraine's "associate membership"

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed that the heads of the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Council create a special task force as soon as possible to examine the possibility of granting Ukraine the status of an "associated member" of the European Union.

Source: Friedrich Merz's letter to the EU leadership dated 18 May, seen by European Pravda

Details: Merz wants a task force to be created to prepare for Ukraine's "associate membership" in the EU.

Quote: "My aim would be to reach an agreement soon and to set up a dedicated task force to work out the details."

Details: Merz also added that he is "looking forward" to discussing these ideas at a European Council meeting. The next European Council meeting, a summit of EU leaders, will take place in Brussels on 18-19 June.

Quote: "It is obvious that we will not be able to complete [Ukraine's] accession process shortly, given the countless hurdles as well as the political complexities of ratification processes in various Member States. However, with a view to the peace process, we do not have time for further delays."

More details: This is why, he said, he has proposed an "associate membership" mechanism that would bring Ukraine "substantially closer to the European Union and its core institutions immediately, without affecting the ongoing accession negotiations, but rather fostering and supporting this process".

Background:

• It was reported earlier that Merz has proposed the idea of "associate membership" in the EU for Ukraine as a temporary status that would partly address Kyiv's desire for rapid accession. He outlined the proposal in a letter to other European leaders.
• The European Commission confirmed that it had received a letter from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and encouraged this discussion to advance at the level of the European Council.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly stressed that Ukraine is not interested in incomplete membership of the EU.

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