ITALY PERSPECTIVE

Rome, May 21, 2026. Friedrich Merz sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, and rotating presidency of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides to submit an unprecedented proposal: granting Ukraine an "associated member" status of the European Union before its formal accession. Italian press first notes the formula used by La Repubblica — a "light membership" — to qualify this hybrid device designed to circumvent political and legal obstacles blocking Kyiv's full integration.

According to the Chancellor's letter, this status would require neither modification of European Treaties nor signature of a formal accession treaty. It would rely solely on "a strong political agreement" among member states. Ukraine could participate in European Council and EU Council meetings without voting rights. It would benefit from an associated member at the European Commission — without portfolio and without deliberative voice — as well as associated members at the European Parliament, again without voting rights.

The most commented element by Italian correspondents concerns the inclusion of Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union within the scope of the proposed status. This mutual defense clause, rarely mobilized, would be extended to Ukraine "to create a substantial security guarantee," writes Merz. La Repubblica's correspondent in Berlin, Tonia Mastrobuoni, highlights that Merz invokes a "geopolitical necessity" to justify the initiative, in the context of an uncertain peace process.

Merz acknowledges the limitations of his proposal: "I am well aware that this proposal will raise questions about its political, technical, and legal feasibility," he writes, while affirming that he is "convinced that all these questions can be resolved if we adopt a constructive approach." He proposes the creation of a Task Force dedicated to elaborating the details of the device.

On the budgetary side, the acquis communautaire would only apply at the pace of progress in accession negotiations, and the EU budget would only be mobilized progressively, initially limited to managed programs. A safeguard mechanism is also provided in case of regression on the rule of law or regression in formal negotiations.