EU membership ambitions face a critical juncture
At the informal EU summit in Copenhagen on Wednesday, EU Council President Antonio Costa floated a plan to shift from unanimous voting to majority decisions when opening new negotiation chapters with candidate countries. The aim is to prevent ongoing gridlock as chapters begin, but the proposal keeps the final decision on membership behind a veto—Hungary would still block Kyiv’s accession at the final stage. The Hungarian prime minister quickly dismissed the idea, warning that letting Ukraine join would amount to bringing war into the EU.
The debate reflects a broader tension in the bloc: how to keep reform-driven momentum while preserving unanimity on the most consequential choices. Costa’s proposal would not fully bypass member-state consent; it would, however, allow smoother process at the chapter-opening phase, potentially unlocking technical work even while political divisions persist.
Zelensky’s call to move forward at the EPC meeting
On Thursday, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky attended the European Political Community (EPC) meeting, where leaders from outside the EU also participate. He urged that it is time to move forward with Ukraine’s European path and stressed the importance of supporting Moldova, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans on their journeys toward EU membership. Zelensky reminded attendees that Ukraine has cleared the EU screening process and is ready to open the first negotiation chapter, insisting that it must happen as agreed.
readiness and political realities
While Zelensky framed the moment as a test of EU solidarity and strategic foresight, European leaders must navigate competing national interests. The Ukrainian push aligns with a broader eastward enlargement conversation, where the bloc seeks to demonstrate commitment to stability in a volatile neighborhood even as individual governments weigh domestic concerns.
Progress and cautions from Stockholm to Brussels
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson characterized the Copenhagen outcomes as a mixture of advancing issues and continuing hurdles. He suggested that although Hungary blocks a faster entry path, Zelensky could still take away cause for optimism from the summit. Kristersson pointed to other areas where there has been movement: the European Commission had proposed that Ukraine could receive an interest-free loan facility of up to €140 billion using Russian frozen assets held by the EU. The plan has generated a largely positive reception from EU leadership, including Ursula von der Leyen, head of the Commission.
Kristersson noted that the prospects for a broader EU bargain later—encompassing the use of frozen Russian assets—have “increased dramatically,” signaling a pragmatic kernel amid political friction. Yet several member states remain wary of the legal and political implications of tapping frozen assets and of accelerating the enlargement process beyond what consensus allows.
Drums of defense and the road to modernization
The EPC discussions also touched on strengthening Europe’s defenses amid ongoing hostilities in Ukraine. Zelensky referenced the idea of a “drone wall” to deter Russian drone incursions, underscoring Ukraine’s willingness to share its experience in counter-drone operations. He framed this as part of a broader effort to accelerate EU defense modernization and preparedness.
As the Brussels summit at the end of October looms, the European Commission is expected to present a detailed roadmap for the bloc’s rearmament and resilience-building. Officials say it will outline measures to boost rapid capability development, cross-border defense coordination, and the integration of best practices from Ukraine’s wartime experience into EU strategic planning.
What lies ahead
Despite Hungary’s evident veto and ongoing skepticism among some member states, Zelensky’s sustained push at the EPC meeting signals a broader, enduring demand for a more proactive approach to Ukraine’s EU path. The coming weeks will test whether the EU can reconcile the desire for a faster enlargement with the bloc’s diverse political calculations. Moldova and the Western Balkans remain central to the bloc’s strategic narrative, and the October roadmap could set the tone for how quickly and cohesively the EU advances on its eastern neighborhood.
