European commissioner reveals which paths to Ukraine's EU accession are currently being discussed

European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos says that discussions on Ukraine's accession paths have intensified within the EU.

Source: Kos speaking at a discussion at the URC-2026 conference in Gdańsk, as reported by a European Pravda correspondent

Details: Kos said she is satisfied with the discussions on this matter.

"I am pleased that the debate among leaders about how quickly and in what form to conduct Ukraine's accession has been very lively in recent weeks," she said. As Kos explained, there is currently no clear decision, but there are positions on which agreement among member states is emerging.

"The first signal from member states is that the merit-based principle must be preserved," she stressed. This refers to the idea that progress towards membership must depend on the reform progress demonstrated by a specific candidate state. Kos considers this position of the member states a good one "because the EU cannot have a member state that is not ready".

The second position on which there is currently common ground is the willingness of states to seek paths for "gradual accession". "Final accession requires compliance with all criteria. But if Ukraine, on the path to accession, already fulfils certain requirements or can be part of some special EU policy – that can happen," she explained this principle.

The commissioner gave the example of Norway, Switzerland and Iceland, which are part of the Schengen area and can participate in relevant EU Council meetings but are not EU members and therefore have no voting rights at those meetings.

A further argument in favour of "gradual accession" is, in her words, the experience of certain Western Balkan countries that are not progressing towards accession due to vetoes from neighbours. "We cannot wait that long with Ukraine," she added.

The impetus for change in this area should come from an EU summit.

"The decision on enlargement methodology is a matter for leaders. And I expect leaders to engage in the discussion and say how they envision this expanded or accelerated accession process," Kos explained.

The most recent EU summit was unable to make a decision on the next steps for Ukraine, postponing the enlargement discussion until autumn.

Meanwhile, surveys showed that a majority of Poles are opposed to Ukraine's accession to the EU.

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