- June 15, 2022
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- April 24, 2025
70 years ago, the European Union was established as a peace-keeping and economic recovery project to unite a war-torn continent. Today, war is not only on our doorstep, but the reality in Ukraine has also painfully shown how vulnerable European peace is. But still; the image of the EU as a guarantor of peace persists, as evidenced by Ukraine’s application for EU membership virtually immediately after the Russian invasion. One could argue that declaring Ukraine as an EU candidate serves as a proof of European solidarity amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, leaders from member states such as Spain, the Netherlands and Germany have arguing that membership is not the appropriate way to address the present conflict. In any case, Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership is a highly relevant issue that will affect the future of the EU and its status as a peacekeeping project.
On June 15th, Aspen Germany hosted a joint event with the Aspen Institute Kyiv on Ukraine’s candidacy and potential EU membership. Oleksiy Chernyshov, Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine; Maria Mezentseva, Head of the Permanent Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Member of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; Olena Halushka, Head of international relations at the Anti-Corruption Action Center; and Natalya Yemchenko, Director of Public Relations and Communications, SCM Group discussed the questions, opportunities and challenges revolving around Ukraine EU membership. Dr. Stormy Mildner, Executive Director of Aspen Germany, moderated the panel discussion.
