Merz proposes EU enlargement, associate status for Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has put forward a proposal to accelerate EU enlargement. The plan grants Ukraine associate membership – a status that would allow participation in EU institutions but without voting rights – and suggests a gradual integration pathway for Western Balkan countries, offering them privileged access to the single market, observer status in EU bodies and regular joint meetings with the Commission and Parliament. The proposal also mentions the possible future inclusion of Moldova, though the exact role remains undefined.

Analysts highlight several unresolved issues: the legal basis for associate membership, the distinction between Ukraine’s associate status and the Balkan states’ observer status, the need for treaty amendments, and how equal treatment of all candidate countries can be ensured. They note that early integration in specific sectors such as digital services, foreign investment screening and the EU public prosecutor’s office could offer tangible benefits, but stress that concrete operational steps are still lacking.