European Commissioner Kos supported discussions on Ukraine's "associated" membership in the EU

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos called on European Union member states to open the first negotiation chapter on Ukraine’s accession as early as June, and the remaining five chapters in July of this year. 

She made this statement on May 26 during a speech in Brussels, according to Radio Free Europe.

When asked by Radio Liberty journalists whether she supports the idea of Ukraine’s “associated” membership in the EU as an intermediate step toward full integration, the official answered in the affirmative. She emphasized that she is extremely pleased with the active discussions, as European institutions must be prepared in advance to make decisions when peace comes to the region. In her view, the current moment is an excellent opportunity to bring together all experts on security issues in Europe and the enlargement process.

Kos also added that European politicians are becoming increasingly involved in this process. She noted that while previous waves of EU expansion were largely based on comprehensive assistance from Brussels to help candidates prepare, the war has now brought a new understanding: Ukraine itself is capable of making a significant contribution to the security of the entire European Union. The European Commissioner concluded that this approach opens up a completely new perspective on the discussion regarding the future form of Ukraine’s European integration.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed introducing a new “associated membership” format for Ukraine within the EU until it obtains full membership status. 

The head of Italy’s Foreign Ministry officially confirmed that his country fully supports granting Ukraine full membership in the European Union.