Commission Opinion on Ukraine’s application for membership of the European Union

Summary:

Communication adopted by the European Commission on 17 June 2022, comprising the European Commission's Opinion concerning Ukraine's application to become a member of the European Union (EU).

Further information:

Ukraine's authorities presented its application for EU membership on 28 February 2022, a few days after Russia decided invade the country. On 7 March, the Council of the European Union requested the European Commission to submit its Opinion on this application. This decision was endorsed by the European Council at an informal meeting held later in the month.

In this Opinion, the Commission assesses Ukraine’s application on the basis of its capacity to meet the criteria set by the European Council in 1993 and in 1995, notably regarding the country’s administrative capacity. The Opinion also takes into account Ukraine’s efforts in implementing its obligations under the Association Agreement (AA) and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which entered into force in September 2017.

This Opinion was prepared following a methodology similar to that used in previous Commission Opinions. Ukraine received questionnaires on 8 April 2022 on the political and economic criteria and on 13 April on the EU acquis chapters and provided its replies on 17 April and on 9 May respectively. This Opinion is a structural assessment against established criteria and builds on knowledge and experience gained through many years of close cooperation of the EU with Ukraine.

Ukraine was eventually granted the EU candidate status by the European Council at a summit on 23 June 2022.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMFUS): Insights, 01/06/2022: Should the EU Offer Ukraine Candidate Status? https://www.gmfus.org/news/should-eu-offer-ukraine-candidate-status

Balkan Insight: Blog, 01/06/2022: Ukraine: EU remains leery of 'symbolic' offer of candidate status https://balkaninsight.com/2022/06/01/ukraine-eu-remains-leery-of-symbolic-offer-of-candidate-status/

Foreign Policy: Argument, 08/06/2022: EU Mulls Putting Ukraine on Track for Membership https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/06/08/ukraine-eu-candidacy-membership-european-union-war-moldova-georgia/

Euronews: Explained, 15/06/2022: Where EU leaders stand on Ukraine's membership to the bloc https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/06/15/explained-where-eu-leaders-stand-on-ukraines-membership-to-the-bloc

The Economist: Leaders, 16/06/2022: The EU should declare Ukraine a candidate for membership https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/06/16/the-eu-should-declare-ukraine-a-candidate-for-membership

TIME Magazine, 17/06/2022: Why Ukraine’s Bid for E.U. Membership Could Take Decades—If It Ever Happens https://time.com/6188644/ukraine-eu-membership/

Deutsche Welle, 18/06/2022: What hurdles do Ukraine and Moldova face on the path to EU membership? https://p.dw.com/p/4CsYM

---

News

The Guardian, 03/06/2022: Ukraine renews diplomatic push for speedy EU membership https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/03/ukraine-renews-diplomatic-push-for-speedy-eu-membership

Bloomberg, 09/06/2022: Ukraine Likely to Win Initial EU Backing for Path to Membership https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-09/ukraine-likely-to-win-initial-eu-backing-for-path-to-membership

Politico, 13/06/2022: Commission will urge EU candidate status for war-ravaged Ukraine https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-urge-eu-candidate-status-for-ukraine/

ITV News, 17/06/2022: European Commission backs Ukraine's membership bid as Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks to join EU https://www.itv.com/news/2022-06-17/european-commission-backs-ukraines-eu-membership-bid

France24, 17/06/2022: Von der Leyen says Ukraine ready for EU ‘candidate status’ ahead of bloc meeting https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220617-%F0%9F%94%B4-european-commission-recommends-eu-candidate-status-for-ukraine

Reuters, 17/06/2022: EU recommends Ukraine and Moldova as membership candidates, Kyiv says move benefits Europe https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/brussels-propose-ukraine-become-eu-membership-candidate-2022-06-17/

Le Monde, 17/06/2022: European Commission recommends EU 'candidate status' for Ukraine and Moldova https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/06/17/european-commission-recommends-eu-candidate-status-for-ukraine_5987138_4.html

EurActiv, 17/06/2022: Ukraine, Moldova should get EU candidate status, Georgia might need to wait, EU executive says https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/ukraine-moldova-should-get-eu-candidate-status-georgia-might-need-to-wait-eu-executive-says/

BBC News, 18/06/2022: Ukraine moves one step closer to EU membership https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61841598

---

Official

Ukrainian Presidency: News, 11/06/2022: Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the President of the European Commission in Kyiv https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/volodimir-zelenskij-zustrivsya-z-prezidentom-yevropejskoyi-k-75769

European Commission: Press Release, 17/06/2022: The European Commission recommends to Council confirming Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia's perspective to become members of the EU and provides its opinion on granting them candidate status https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_3790

European Commission: Opinion on the EU membership application by Ukraine (17 June 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_3802

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen on the Commission's opinions on the EU membership applications by Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia (17 June 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_22_3822

Irish Government: Press Release, 17/06/2022: Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcomes recommendation by the European Commission that Ukraine be granted Candidate Status https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/c502e-taoiseach-micheal-martin-welcomes-recommendation-by-the-european-commission-that-ukraine-be-granted-candidate-status/

---