The French Secretary of State, Clément Beaune, explained on Friday 4 March that at their informal meeting in Arles, the EU’s European Affairs Ministers had agreed on a “European aspiration” for Ukraine. This does not mean, however, that an agreement has been reached on Ukraine’s application for EU membership.
According to Mr Beaune, there is a very strong convergence on the fact of rethinking the relationship with Ukraine, “to give a signal of European openness”. He added that the relationship probably needed to be looked at with “a fresh pair of eyes”, to “consider different options from association links to partnerships and Member State status”. The Secretary of State has made it clear that the debate was not clear-cut, but that the discussion was taking place on the basis of a balance between “responsibility, realism and openness”.
Mr Beaune said that once the war was over, it would be necessary to think with Ukrainian authorities on the possible modalities for this European perspective, “its pace, the most urgent policies on which to cooperate, and the political dialogue to be had”.
However, Mr Beaune noted that the urgency lay elsewhere: effective support for Ukraine, which is facing the Russian invasion.
The Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, was also enthusiastic. “We have to send a strong, clear political signal to the Ukrainian people that they are one of the European peoples and we want them to enter (the EU) as quickly as possible”, he said. According to the Vice-President, the first thing to do is to reassure Ukrainians that their future lies within the EU and that “the time for the mechanics of this will come later”.
While acknowledging that there was a process to become a member of the EU, Šefčovič therefore felt that the issue deserved the “ strategic” attention of the EU and to give “a clear signal: Ukraine belongs with us, its people are one of us and we want them in the EU”. Hailing their courage, he added that “Ukrainians deserve a place at the European table”.
When they arrived at the Council, several ministers spoke in favour of accession. “We should have the political will and bravery to agree on candidate status for Ukraine”, pleaded Lithuanian Minister Arnoldas Pranckevičius. His Slovenian counterpart, Gašper Dovžan, said that for his country, a clear perspective ought to be offered to Ukraine, “because that would give them will, a hope for people who know what they are fighting for”.
In Brussels, Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets said it was important to grant Ukraine candidate status so that “the people of Ukraine, those who are fighting for European values on the front line, can feel this moral support from the EU”.
The issue of Ukraine’s membership could be discussed at the informal summit of heads of state and government scheduled for 10–11 March in Versailles, France.
After Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova officially applied for EU membership on Thursday 3 March. Arriving at the Council in Brussels, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu made clear that his country supported Moldova’s request, explaining that the country was “well prepared”.
Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic – whose country applied for EU membership in February 2016 (see EUROPE 11490/1) – called on the EU to “immediately” grant her country EU candidate status “in these grave and uncertain times for the security of Europe”. “EU membership guarantees peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans”, she said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)