Merz reveals details of his proposal for EU enlargement

The proposal to grant Ukraine associate membership in the European Union remains on the agenda and could be implemented without amending EU treaties, despite criticism from some member states, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said at a briefing in Brussels following the EU summit.

According to Report's European bureau, Merz said Ukraine's full accession to the EU is impossible while the country remains at war, but associate membership could serve as an interim solution before eventual full membership.

"A country that is at war cannot become a member of the European Union, but it could become an associate member of the EU and then a full member."

Merz noted that Germany initially presented the proposal and later, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, prepared a more detailed document. According to him, the associate membership model does not require changes to the EU's founding treaties.

As a precedent, the chancellor cited the reunification of Germany in 1990, when representatives of the former German Democratic Republic were granted observer status.

The head of the German government stressed that the initiative concerns not only Ukraine but also the countries of the Western Balkans. He said he does not support different "speeds" of enlargement, while acknowledging differences in the readiness of candidate countries.

Merz noted that at least one country in the region - Montenegro - is effectively ready to join the EU. According to him, at the next meeting of the European Council in October, leaders will discuss whether Western Balkan countries should join the bloc simultaneously or in stages.

He also referred to Croatia, which became the most recent country to join the EU in 2013, as an example of how long the enlargement process has remained stalled.

Merz added that the issue of EU enlargement is "far from being removed from the agenda" and said that many European leaders support efforts to break the long-standing deadlock and give new momentum to the integration process for both Ukraine and the Western Balkan states.