In an interview with the European Newsroom (enr), David McAllister, a prominent German foreign policy figure in the European Parliament, encouraged Ukraine to consider a recent proposal from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding “associate membership” in the EU.
McAllister, a member of the European People’s Party (EPP) and chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), expressed support for a gradual integration of Ukraine into the EU to demonstrate the benefits of EU membership to the Ukrainian populace. He suggested that Ukraine could join the European Parliament as an observer.
Previously, Kyiv had dismissed the notion of “associate membership.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy articulated in a letter to EU leaders that it would be unjust for Ukraine to be part of the EU while lacking a voice in decision-making. He called on the EU to expedite the integration process instead of having Ukraine in a limbo.
In addition to Ukraine, eight other Eastern European nations are recognized as candidates for EU membership: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye.
McAllister indicated that EU enlargement is a priority and emphasized the importance of stability in the Western Balkans as critical for peace and security. He advocated for a tailored approach to each nation based on their individual merits, noting the differing stages of progress among the Western Balkan countries. He highlighted Montenegro as a frontrunner, in contrast to North Macedonia, which faces obstacles in its EU accession due to issues with Bulgaria.
The interview was conducted by journalists from European Newsroom partner agencies dpa (Germany), CTK (Czech Republic), and Tanjug (Serbia) on behalf of the entire network.
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