Germany and France propose ‘symbolic membership’ for Ukraine in the EU without access to the Common Agricultural Policy

France and Germany plan to grant Ukraine ‘symbolic’ benefits at the pre-accession stage to the European Union, which would exclude Kyiv’s access to the bloc’s budget and voting rights.

This is according to documents with the proposals of the two countries, which were reviewed by the Financial Times.

It is noted that Paris and Berlin have rejected the European Commission’s proposals to scrap the slow and bureaucratic accession process in order to give Kyiv rapid membership benefits.

Germany insists on the status of an ‘associated member’, under which Ukraine would participate in meetings of ministers and leaders, but would have no voting rights or automatic access to the EU’s common budget.

The German proposal also states that the new status would have ‘symbolic power through its name’. It could be granted by a political decision of EU leaders, which would allow avoiding lengthy procedures.
France calls such partial membership the ‘status of an integrated state’, under which access to the Common Agricultural Policy and European funding should be postponed until full accession.

Tags: Ukraine, EU