EU preparing ‘pre-entry’ perks for Ukraine instead of fast-track accession - Politico

The European Union is developing a package of temporary privileges for Ukraine that would provide broader access to the market and EU institutions without immediate full membership, Politico reports, citing diplomats.

The idea emerged after the EU rejected the scenario of accelerated accession. Instead, Brussels is promoting a model of gradual integration.

“Member states have made it clear that membership in the short term is very hard to imagine,” said one diplomat. “But we need a positive proposal on how we can best move forward together until then.”

Germany and France are actively involved in developing this approach. In particular, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that rapid membership is currently impossible, but proposed giving Ukraine the opportunity to participate in European Council meetings without voting rights.

At the same time, Lithuania is promoting the idea of granting Ukraine the interim status of an acceding state.

The Ukrainian side is insisting on practical steps. Ukraine’s Ambassador to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, stated that Kyiv seeks “phased access to the EU Single Market linked to progress on reforms, deeper participation in EU programs and institutions, and swift progress on agreements like ACAA to facilitate trade.”

Separately, Ukraine is counting on the swift conclusion of an ACAA agreement, which would allow for the export of industrial goods to the EU without additional inspections.

The European Union emphasizes that the new package will not replace the accession process. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos noted that expectations of Ukraine’s full membership in 2027 remain “impossible.”

At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Taras Kachka expects negotiation clusters to open in the coming weeks.

As a reminder, media outlets previously reported that Ukraine’s accession process to the European Union is entering a new phase, as EU leaders have reached a preliminary agreement to launch the first official negotiations in the coming weeks or months.