Six steps to restore EU's trust in Ukraine and its path to membership

In the EU, political will for enlargement emerges only when the idea gains support among European societies.

Until 2022, much of Western and Northern Europe was very sceptical about admitting new members to the EU, but Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine changed the situation.

As a result, Ukraine now has a real chance at accession, a window that appears only once every 20 years.

The main factor for joining the European Union is strong trust between European policymakers and the candidate country.

Read more about what Ukraine must do to regain Brussels’ trust after attempts to limit the independence of anti-corruption bodies in the article by Liubov Akulenko, Viktoriia Melnyk and Ivan Nahorniak: EU membership is still achievable. How Ukraine can restore trust in negotiations with Europe.

To return the situation to its state as of 22 July, Ukraine must take practical steps that, on one hand, demonstrate openness to reform and on the other, allow the EU to show that European policies are effective and work in practice.

There are six steps to take:

First, do what you promised. 

This means clearly and effectively implementing previous agreements with partners: do not encroach on the independence of anti-corruption institutions; consistently advance law enforcement reform, including reforming and strengthening the Economic Security Bureau; ensure the appointment of a professional head of the Customs Service.

Second. Prepare the civil service for membership. 

Start by restoring competitive selection processes and holding competitions for those appointed after 2020, when these competitions were canceled. Gradually implement comprehensive public administration reform, including salary adjustments to ensure institutional sustainability, especially in areas where EU legal acts will be implemented.

Third. Appoint judges selected through transparent selection to the Constitutional Court to maintain its full functionality. This will prevent the adoption of laws like those passed on 22 July.

Fourth. Ensure the functioning of democratic tools that are possible during wartime (for example, ensure the broadcast of sessions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine).

Fifth. The president must ensure that laws passed by parliament are considered within the 15-day period established by the Constitution.

Sixth and the most important.

Move toward accession immediately. Ukraine can begin implementing commitments outlined in Roadmaps developed during the negotiation process for the rule of law, public administration reform, and the functioning of democratic institutions.

For example, under the rule-of-law Roadmap, special attention should be paid to implementing a meritocratic approach for recruiting staff to prosecutorial bodies through competitive selection and ensuring the selection of honest members for judicial governance bodies (High Council of Justice and High Qualification Commission of Judges).

It is extremely important to demonstrate that we can and are capable of fulfilling commitments even before the official opening of the first negotiation cluster.