Telegraph: Ukraine's EU bid faces growing concerns among members

Ukraine poses greater challenges for Brussels than other candidates seeking membership in the European Union, Telegraph reports.

The outlet said several factors contribute to these concerns, including uncertainty over Ukraine’s final borders.

Another issue is the country's large agricultural sector, which would be an advantage for the EU but would also “present a headache for the bloc’s agricultural subsidies” as subsidies are calculated based on land area.

The report noted that a country with a population of up to 39 million would wield significant influence over EU decision-making, a prospect that would not suit all member states.

It also highlighted the potentially high cost of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and the risk of large-scale migration to EU countries, where Ukrainian citizens could benefit from freedom of movement and gain access to social welfare programs and other benefits.

A European diplomat quoted by the newspaper described as unacceptable a proposal to grant Ukraine immediate EU membership on the condition that it subsequently completes all required domestic reforms.

“It’s just unacceptable across so many member states because it rips the whole merits-based approach to shreds. We all love [Volodymyr] Zelensky, but he’s going to go at one point,” the source said.

Discussing Ukraine’s potential accession, the diplomat also raised concerns about the lack of guarantees that reforms would remain effective in the future.

“And if we have no guarantees on the rule of law, if we have no guarantees on the oligarchy, on the anti-corruption stuff. The concern is, what are we bringing into the EU?” the diplomat said.

According to the article, representatives of Hungary, Poland and Slovakia recently told a meeting in Brussels that public support in their countries for Ukraine’s accession to the bloc remains low.

The newspaper also cited a survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations, which found that a majority of respondents in Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany and Estonia view further eastward expansion of the European Union as a bad idea.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov