Open Statement of the participants of CivilMPlus platform and European civil society organisations on granting Ukraine EU candidate status

The undersigned participants of the international independent civil society platform CivilMPlus and the European, including Ukrainian, civil society organisations declare their full support for granting Ukraine the status of a candidate country for European Union membership and call on the EU member states to approve Ukraine’s application for it.

Cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union began more than 28 years ago with the signing of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, continued within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and reached its most active phase in 2014 with the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. In 2013-2014, Ukrainian society made its choice to follow the principles of freedom, democratic values and a European path of development. The undeniable evidence of that was shown with the protests that went down in history as the ‘Revolution of Dignity’. Since 2014, and especially since 24 February 2022, Ukrainians have demonstrated their willingness to defend this choice, even at the cost of their own lives. Despite the difficulties caused by Russian aggression and thanks to international support, Ukraine has shown significant progress over the last eight years in the development of democratic institutions, civil society and reforms. Since 2014, Ukraine has considerably advanced in adapting its legislation to EU standards and reforms in various areas –  from energy and transport, decentralisation of power, human rights and equality, to the judiciary system and the launch of anti-corruption mechanisms. 

We believe that these reform successes provide a sufficient basis for Ukraine to be formally granted EU candidate country status. Ukraine does not expect exemptions due to the war. The Ukrainians’ heroic resistance to the armed aggression by the Russian Federation is, among other things, proof of their commitment to the values of democracy and European ideals, which the Ukrainian people are not prepared to abandon even at the risk of death. The need to defend independence and the right to self-determination has reinforced the active development of civil society and self-government structures – institutions that usually take much longer to develop in times of transformation, and are key to stabilising the democratic foundations of the state. 

The granting of candidate status gives Ukraine the green light to undertake an ambitious and comprehensive agenda of reforms in close cooperation with the EU. The duration of this process largely depends on Ukraine itself. At the same time, the incentives of candidate status will help Ukraine continue its reforms and give current EU member states a strong, progressive, democratic neighbour that shares the legal values of Europe’s common space.

The EU’s support for Ukraine’s reforms and the identification of prerequisites for the start of future accession negotiations is an important and necessary signal for a young democracy that has been subjected to post-colonial policies by the neighbouring authoritarian regime of the Russian Federation. 

Granting candidate status will give a major impetus to Ukraine’s reforms, send a signal to investors and help facilitate the country’s post-war recovery. Greater economic and political stability in Ukraine will reduce the need for EU financial assistance in the future. Yet candidate status does not imply any additional EU funding. 

Approval of Ukraine’s application will demonstrate the reliability, consistency and clear perspective of the European community’s support for countries that have chosen the democratic path of development, and will reinforce democratic trends in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. It would thus set a positive precedent motivating democratic and opposition forces in Russia and Belarus to act. 

Granting candidate country status to Ukraine is a practical affirmation of the EU’s willingness to signify its unity in a peaceful way and to reject the communication based on ultimatums and blackmail regarding its foreign and domestic policies. 

Non-governmental organisations from European, including Ukrainian, civil societies are confident that the urgent granting of candidate status to Ukraine is the right and effective signal to democratic and pro-European forces throughout Eastern Europe and will have a positive impact on the development and strengthening of the EU itself in the future.

The statement is signed by:

Assemblée Européenne des Citoyens (France)

Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)

Centre of Public Initiatives “Ideas for Change” (Ukraine)

Country of Free People (Ukraine)

DRA e.V. (Germany)

Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland)

International Partnership for Human Rights (Belgium)

Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (Ukraine)

MEMORIAL Deutschland e.V. (Germany)

Truth Hounds (Ukraine)

Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (Ukraine)