German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposes special EU status for Ukraine and mutual defense guarantees, moving Kyiv closer to membership.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed giving Ukraine a special status as an «associated member» of the European Union and extending to Kyiv the bloc’s mutual defense principle, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported, citing a letter from the head of the German government to EU institutional leaders.
The proposal concerns Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union. The clause says that if one EU member state comes under armed attack, the other members are obliged to provide assistance. According to FAZ, Merz wants EU countries to make a political commitment to apply that principle to Ukraine as well. Berlin sees the move as a major security guarantee for Kyiv.
FAZ notes, however, that the provision has no clearly established procedures. It also remains unclear whether such assistance would have to include military measures.
In his letter, Merz argues that this format would allow Ukraine to make significant progress and move, in practical terms, closer to full EU membership. He believes the step would not require changes to existing EU treaties and could be based on firm political agreement among the bloc’s members.
The chancellor also wants the special status to include a mechanism for reversal. Under his proposal, it could be withdrawn if a country backslides on the EU’s core values, including the rule of law.
Merz expects EU members to reach an agreement soon. After that, he proposes setting up a working group to work through the details.