Ukraine has faced obstacles on its path to rapid accession to the European Union following a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels on March 4. The meeting discussed a proposal for the so-called “reverse enlargement,” which envisioned granting Ukraine membership with a gradual acquisition of all EU rights and privileges. The European Commission viewed this model as a way to expedite Ukraine’s integration, potentially by 2027.
This is reported by Finway
Position of EU Member States on the “Reverse Enlargement” Model
However, according to information from diplomats, EU member states did not support this approach. Some countries took a firm stance against the accelerated process even before the meeting began. As one diplomat noted,
the idea of “reverse enlargement” is effectively dead before it even started.
Diplomats emphasize that the expansion of the European Union should occur according to the traditional scheme—with strict adherence to all membership criteria and the principle of merit. The draft conclusions of the EU Council ahead of the meeting scheduled for March 19 also indicate that leaders will support this approach. This significantly complicates the prospect of Ukraine’s rapid accession to the EU.
Financial Assistance and Negotiation Process
Meanwhile, discussions continue regarding the unlocking of financial assistance to Ukraine, which is being delayed due to the position of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the dispute over access to the pipeline. Some EU countries are urging Kyiv to allow inspections, but Ukraine insists it needs time to assess the damages.
These issues were raised during a phone call between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, although Brussels is avoiding public pressure on Kyiv.
At the same time, negotiations for membership are ongoing. Ukraine and the EU are already working on three of the six negotiation clusters: “Foundations,” “Internal Market,” and “External Relations.” However, doubts are increasingly being voiced in EU capitals regarding the possibility of Ukraine joining the European Union by 2027, as the standard procedure typically takes many years.