Ukraine’s ambition to join the European Union by early 2027 faces significant hurdles, as highlighted by recent remarks from Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. He emphasized the complexity of the accession negotiations and drew on the experiences of other nations to illustrate the challenges ahead.
Plenković expressed support for Ukraine’s European integration but deemed the proposed timeline of January 2027 as unrealistic. He noted that Croatia’s own negotiations for EU membership spanned six years, underscoring that no previous expansion has been completed in such a short timeframe.
“No expansion has occurred quickly enough to finalize it in seven months. As of now, no clusters have been opened, and it is nearly May. Full membership within such a brief period is unlikely,” Plenković stated.
He refrained from speculating on specific dates, recalling that Croatia itself had to adjust its expectations multiple times during its EU accession process.
In addition to discussing membership, Plenković welcomed Hungary and Slovakia’s decision to remove obstacles to a €90 billion loan for Ukraine. Of this amount, €60 billion is intended for defense, while €30 billion will support the functioning of the Ukrainian state.
The Croatian Prime Minister also expressed optimism about constructive collaboration with Hungary’s future Prime Minister, Péter Márki-Zay, to advance the EU enlargement process.
Furthermore, Plenković highlighted the necessity of providing Ukraine with robust security guarantees that extend beyond EU membership. He stated, “The future peace agreement must include security assurances from major members of the international community, considering the negative experience of the Budapest Memorandum.”
Ukraine's path to EU membership by 2027 appears increasingly unlikely due to complex negotiations and historical precedents. Croatian Prime Minister Plenković emphasizes the need for substantial security guarantees alongside financial support for Ukraine.