No EU Membership for Ukraine on Jan.1, 2027, Brussels Admits
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has ruled out Ukraine joining on Jan. 1, 2027. Civil society’s September assessment puts implementation of its priority reform plan at just 15%, while Ukrainian diplomatic reporting had already questioned whether even symbolic political membership next year was achievable.
Ukraine is unable to join the European Union on January 1, 2027, according to EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos. The date was set by President Zelensky, and accession is contingent upon meeting membership requirements. Kos emphasized that the process is merit-based, and the current state of Ukraine's reforms makes the Jan. 1 target unfeasible.
She acknowledged the role of the EU membership as a security guarantee but highlighted that the war in Ukraine has altered European geopolitics, making enlargement a priority for Ukraine and other nations.
The civil-society assessment rates the implementation of the Kachka–Kos priority reform plan at a mere 15% as of September, with only three months left before the deadline. Key areas of concern include the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), which are yet to be fully strengthened.
Additionally, there are ongoing debates regarding the independence and transparency of prosecutorial appointments. The report also points out that 114 EU-related bills are currently pending parliamentary consideration, but their approval is not sufficient to establish that the necessary safeguards have been implemented.
The situation has been further complicated by political developments, such as the confrontation between former Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and independent anti-corruption investigators. Kravchenko's resignation amid a corruption investigation has reignited concerns about the protection of institutions Ukraine pledged to strengthen under EU standards.
The delay in reforms and the political uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the upcoming French presidential election, where Marine Le Pen could emerge victorious, may pose additional challenges to Ukraine's accession prospects.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
