Germany's Merz proposes Ukraine as EU ‘associate member’ without voting rights
Key takeaways
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed granting Ukraine “associate member” status in the European Union without voting rights while it pursues full membership, according to a letter seen by AFP on Thursday.
- The plan -- first floated by Merz with EU counterparts last month -- would see Ukraine's leader attend the bloc's summit but not be able to cast a vote.
- Kyiv would have a representative at the top table of the EU's executive, the European Commission, and non-voting members of the European parliament.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed granting Ukraine “associate member” status in the European Union without voting rights while it pursues full membership, according to a letter seen by AFP on Thursday. The plan would allow Kyiv representation at EU summits, the European Commission and parliament, but without voting powers.
By: FRANCE 24 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on March 25, 2026, in the Bundestag in Berlin © John Macdougall, AFP German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed making Ukraine an "associate member" of the EU without voting rights, while Kyiv goes through the lengthy process of joining fully, a letter seen by AFP Thursday said.
The plan -- first floated by Merz with EU counterparts last month -- would see Ukraine's leader attend the bloc's summit but not be able to cast a vote.