Yesterday, the European Commission recommended granting Ukraine candidate member status. In the proposal, the Commission mentions that the country must first take steps before the accession negotiations start. For example, there must be an independent constitutional state and the fight against corruption is important.
Dutch politicians initially did not support Ukraine’s candidate for membership. Now that the European Commission comes up with strict conditions, they have been positive about it since yesterday.
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But what does it benefit Europe, including the Netherlands? If Ukraine joins the European Union, this could have positive consequences for business. “The European market will grow,” says Niels van Willigen, senior lecturer in International Relations at Leiden University. It means that the huge country, with more than 44 million inhabitants, will strengthen the large and free market of Europe. A considerable expansion for Europe.
young people
For example, Ukraine is interesting for businesses in the field of agriculture and agriculture, says Alex Krijger, geopolitical analyst. The country is a major player, especially in the grain market.
There are also many motivated young people in Ukraine who have a lot to offer. “For example, they see that there is still work to be done in Europe in the field of technology, they can contribute to improving it.”
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But the participation of this large country also means a ‘huge cost’. The Dutch taxpayer will also have to contribute to this, says Krijger. “And that while many Dutch people already do not know how they will reach the end of the month financially.”
Krijger hopes politicians will be honest at the upcoming EU summits next week. “Only in this way can you create support among the European population.”
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Longer wish
The war is an important reason for Ukraine to apply for candidate membership. Yet that wish had been around for some time and that is why the Association Agreement was concluded in 2014, says Van Willigen. “This started good cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union”.
So Ukraine is not just about finding an ally in the West. The large internal and free market is also interesting for Ukraine, as is being able to travel freely in Europe.
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Whether and, if so, when, that membership will come is the question. Experts are not talking about years but decades. “It is a gigantic process with many hurdles,” says Krijger. Van Willigen thinks it will take at least ten to fifteen years.
War and Reconstruction
For example, war, reconstruction and corruption are obstacles to meeting the requirements of the European Commission. Those conditions include having an independent judiciary and a free market.
And so the European Commission’s guidance is now mainly ‘symbolic’, says Van Willigen. Krijger: “Ukraine and the European Union have now agreed to get engaged, but they still have a lot of things to discuss. One of the two still has some work to do before they can tie the knot.”
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