Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, clearly wishes to be a member state of the European Union. He through an as-yet non-existent fast track process has constituted a formal application to join the EU.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, speaks to the European Parliament, requesting a fast-track procedure to join the EU to be implemented. The conditions require such an approach, since Ukraine if ends to be an independent nation, then it may not be in a state to apply for anything.
The approach to be the member state of EU would be a sign of the aim to link Ukraine with Europe and the west instead of turning eastward— and other might add, backwards— to Russia, even if the EU has nothing in the form of a defence or security function.
Who is in favour of Ukraine’s membership to EU?
A strong majority of declarations, 81% on average, were in pursuit of further inclusion of Ukraine in European Union. The majority of declarations referred to the Association Agreement i.e. 40.6 declarations, 87% support and Ukraine’s election for European Union membership i.e. 282 declarations, 85% support are the further practical steps for Ukraine in its membership process.
Image Source: LSE Blogs
The support for overall membership of EU was lower in regards to both the number of statements and the percentage in favour i.e., 27 declarations, 78% support, still it was significantly greater than the support given to other Western Balkan states.
However, support for Ukraine’s further inclusion as a member of EU is not evenly distributed. In such an instance, the most substantial differences in favour of Ukraine are between member countries: whereas the support is larger among neighbouring nations, it diminishes as we keep moving towards the east of the EU’s borders.
The EU may be unable to ignore the powerful symbolism of offering a democratic hand to the non-EU European countries that is under invasion by an authoritarian government. A lack of cooperation in such situation could jeopardise the EU’s integrity as a regional leader that has been impacted by democratic backsliding among member states and the European Union’s reluctance to maintain its growth.
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