"With us, the EU will clearly become stronger. Without you, Ukraine will be alone."
"Prove that you are on our side, that you will not leave us, that you stand up for European principles."
With these words Volodymyr Zelensky chose to close his emotionally charged speech to the European Parliament on Tuesday, via video call from his retreat in Kiev.
The Ukrainian president's speech was often interrupted by the applause of MEPs and the sounds of explosions.
This was the latest in a long series of attempts by Ukraine to secure EU candidate status.
Now, however, under the heavy shadow of the Russian invasion, it seems to be gaining momentum...
Signing on Monday and immediately sending the official Ukrainian application for EU membership, Zelensky urged Brussels to adopt express procedures despite the strict rules.
"I am sure it is fair. I'm sure we deserve it," he said, speaking of a "new, special procedure" without elaborating. "I am sure that everything is possible."
The European Parliament expressed its support for Ukraine's accession perspective in a non-binding resolution and by a broad majority on Tuesday, but on the basis of the procedures laid down.
The European Parliament's political group Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) announced that it has accepted Zelensky's Servant of the People (Sluha Narodu) party as an associate member.
The presidents of eight EU member states of central and eastern Europe were quick to come out in favour of Ukraine being granted EU candidate status as soon as possible.
But concern in the ranks of the "27" abounds...
Strict criteria, long bureaucracy
A member of the Eastern Partnership since 2009, Ukraine signed an Association Agreement with the EU in 2017. But it has never so far been a candidate for accession talks.
The EU itself explains more or less why, in general terms, on its website.
"Becoming a member of the European Union is a complicated process, which does not happen overnight," it stresses.
To apply for membership, the conditions known as the "Copenhagen Criteria" must be met, which "include a free market economy, stable democracy and the rule of law, as well as acceptance of all EU legislation, including the euro".
In this light, Ukraine had not been given the green light, as it was considered that more reforms were needed from Kiev in many areas, such as the judiciary and the fight against endemic corruption.
Otherwise, the formal process remains lengthy and labyrinthine.
The request to open negotiations must be submitted to the EU Council, which in turn asks the European Commission to assess it on the basis of the Copenhagen Criteria.
A crucial stage in the process, which can take up to 18 months.
If the recommendation is positive, a formal negotiating framework must be adopted unanimously by the EU Council and approved at a summit, which then opens negotiations chapter by chapter (35 in total).
They usually take years, with detailed checks and possible vetoes at each stage.
"Due to the sheer volume of EU rules and regulations that each candidate country has to incorporate into national law, it takes time to complete the negotiations," the EU stressed on its website.
Even if everything goes smoothly, accession is an equally complex process.
"Different views and sensitivities"
For Kiev's application (which is essentially a tactical move in the midst of tough negotiations with invading Russia) to be approved quickly, much will have to be overlooked and many hurdles will also have to be overcome.
"Accession is a demand that has long been made by Ukraine. But there are different positions and sensitivities within the EU on enlargement," said European Council President Charles Michel.
In short, there is a lack of unanimity.
In any case, Charles Michel stressed, "the Council should seriously consider the symbolic, political and legal request that has been made and make the appropriate choice in a decisive and clear manner."
In the meantime, he added, Ukrainian President Zelensky will be challenged at European summits "on a regular basis"...
The next scheduled one is next week, on 10-11 March, where Ukraine's accession perspective is expected to be discussed.
This will be preceded by an extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council on developments in Ukraine, called for this Friday by European diplomacy chief Josep Borel.
Two-speed candidacies?
The last time the EU accepted a new member into its ranks was in 2013, with Croatia.
In the meantime, five countries have remained in the "antechamber" of the European Union for years: Turkey and four states of the geopolitically and politically unstable Western Balkans (Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia).
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo are considered "weak candidates" as they do not yet meet the criteria (the latter's declaration of independence has not been recognised by five EU member states, including Greece).
Therefore, any special treatment of Ukraine's request - even as a political message in the midst of war - raises concerns about new frictions.
On the one hand, with the already candidate countries (Turkish President Erdoğan has already been quick to take advantage of the situation, leaving spikes).
On the other hand, within the "27" themselves, at a time when the aim is to maintain a strong front against Moscow.
And in the meantime, the controversial presidential elections in France (which holds the EU presidency for the current six months) are coming to a close...
The dilemmas, however, seem to be piling up. It's time to apply for EU membership, even with a request for an urgent examination, is now being taken up by Georgia.
Another former Soviet republic, now a NATO partner, where in 2003 the then President (and last USSR Foreign Minister) Edvard Shevardnadze was overthrown in the "Rose Revolution" and five years later the successor pro-Western government was crushed militarily by Russia, losing control of the self-declared independent republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia after a war of only five days.
Now, amid criticism of democratic drift, Tbilisi's government has decided to speed up its EU membership application, which it had announced for 2024.
As a reason, the head of the ruling party, Irakli Kobakhidze, cited broader political developments and the new reality in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Source: in.gr
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