"BP as observer in the EU, Ukraine as associate member"/ EC accepts Chancellor Merz's letter

2026-05-22 14:12:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

"BP as observer in the EU, Ukraine as associate member"/ EC accepts

The European Commission confirmed that it has received a letter from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, through which he proposes that Ukraine be granted associate member status, while the Western Balkan countries be granted observer status.

European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier said that the institution he represents welcomes the fact that this discussion is taking place among member states and encourages the continuation of the debate at the level of EU leaders.

"This shows that there is a strong commitment from member states to make enlargement a reality as soon as possible. It is increasingly clear that enlargement is a geostrategic investment in our prosperity, peace and security. Ukraine's membership in the European Union is also fundamentally linked to the security of our bloc ," Mercier said at a press conference.

He added that it is equally important to achieve the goal of completing the EU with all candidate countries, which have been working towards membership for many years.

"All innovative solutions must be guided by a merit-based process. Looking ahead, we must ensure that our approach to enlargement is fit for purpose," said spokesman Mercier.

Therefore, according to him, the European Commission will continue to actively cooperate with member states and candidate countries to find the best solutions that would make the European Union stronger and more secure.

In a letter made public on May 21, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposes for the Western Balkans and Moldova privileged access to the European common market and closer ties with European institutions in the daily decision-making process.

The European Single Market is an area, mainly composed of 27 EU member states, that enables the free movement of goods, services, capital and people, without border regulations or customs tariffs.

Merz also proposes granting observer status to the Western Balkan countries in all relevant European Union institutions, as well as holding joint meetings of the European Commission or the European Parliament with representatives of the region, on issues directly related to it.

"Gradual integration can be achieved by building blocks that would serve as a basis for the full implementation of relevant policy areas, and would then be accompanied by greater support for the implementation of EU laws. In addition, we can also advance institutional integration on the basis of real progress. All this could significantly bring the candidate countries closer to us and stimulate a new ambition for further reforms towards full membership ," the German Chancellor's letter states.

"Let us remain firmly committed to the promise that the Western Balkan countries and Moldova can join the European Union, as set out in the Copenhagen Criteria and the Thessaloniki Agenda of 2003. Our goal has not changed: the completion of the European Union through the inclusion of all candidate countries ," the letter states.

Of the Western Balkan countries, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia are candidates for membership, while Kosovo is not.

On the other hand, for Ukraine, he proposes significant rapprochement with the European Union and its main institutions, "without affecting the ongoing negotiations for membership, but by encouraging and supporting this process."

The German Chancellor believes that these proposals do not require changes to the institutional and legal framework of the European Union, but only a "strong political agreement." /REL