The Russian war against Ukraine accelerates the accession process but also leads to major political risks. Immediately after the start of the Russian attack, Ukraine requested EU membership at the end of February 2022 and shortly thereafter was granted candidate status.
On Wednesday, the European Commission also cleared the way for the accelerated admission of Moldova, which is also threatened by Russia. The Russians have seized a part of that country as well (Transnistria).
According to EU Commissioners, Ukraine has completed 90 percent of the required preparatory steps, said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. President Zelensky’s government needs a bit more time for the remaining 10 percent in its fight against corruption and the dominance of oligarchs.
The heads of government of the EU member states must formalize the decision during a special EU summit in mid-December. Because unanimity is required and Hungary and Slovakia have already expressed doubts, actually starting accession negotiations is not yet certain.
Moreover, the actual completion of those negotiations can still take many years, as is already the case with the Balkan countries. Such negotiations can even stall, as is currently happening with Turkey.
In European agricultural circles, there is particular interest in European decisions about Ukraine’s admission because the country would instantly become the largest agricultural producer in the EU. Its products’ unrestricted access to the European free market would turn many existing trade relations upside down. It is also already clear that the entire EU agricultural subsidies financing system will undergo significant shifts.