Ukraine's Path to EU membership

Joining the European Union is tough, doing it while fighting a war? It seems unthinkable. Yet, that is exactly what Ukraine is doing. Becoming a member of the European Union involves meeting basic political, economic, and reform criteria. For Ukraine, the challenge is even greater, as it attempts this while holding back the Russian invasion. On top of that Ukraine struggles with deep-rooted corruption, an issue that must be tackled in order to keep the dream of EU membership alive. 

Ukraine and its economic struggle

A key requirement for joining the European Union involves monetary and economic policy. According to the World Bank’s website, Ukraine is currently spending 37% of GDP on defence (World Bank Group, n.d.). This wartime expenditure has led to a massive budget deficit, making economic reforms nearly impossible. Tracking Ukraine’s progress in this area remains just as challenging as long as the war continues.

Corruption problems

Ukraine faces substantial obstacles in regards to corruption. Transparency International, a global coalition against corruption, has scored Ukraine 36 out of 100. A total of 100 points represents the absence of corruption and 0 signifies the highest corruption level. In comparison, European Member States such as Spain and France score 60 and 71, respectively (Transparency International, n.d.). While Ukraine is making efforts to address this issue, there remains significant room for improvement.

Notably, Ukraine has made progress in judicial reforms. According to U4, an anti-corruption resource center, the country has achieved significant strides in this area, leading to the accession process moving forward earlier than anticipated according to Zhernakov & Barchuk,  However, the question remains whether Ukraine can sustain this momentum.

Fighting mentality

Ukraine's path to EU membership seems impossible to most. Yet, this is a country that refuses to let the impossible stop them. When the Russian invasion first started, holding it back also looked to be an impossible task, and yet, Ukraine has held strong for three years. Only time will tell if Ukraine will join the ranks of the other 27 member states, but if any country is capable of beating the odds, it’s Ukraine.