European Parliament suggests that Ukraine can join the EU even with occupied territories

Michael Gahler said that Ukraine could join the EU even with the occupied territories. Photo: interpressnews.ge

Ukraine will be able to become a member of the European Union even if some of its territories remain occupied at the time of accession.

This was stated by the European Parliament's rapporteur on Ukraine, Michael Gahler, in an interview with «Evropeiska Pravda».

According to the politician, Ukraine's membership in the EU during an active war is currently impossible, as it would mean the Union's direct involvement in a military conflict. At the same time, Gahler stressed that after a ceasefire is established, Ukraine's accession is quite possible — even without the complete liberation of the territories.

Advertising

«Then we will have a situation similar to that of West Germany. It became a member of the EU, although it did not control East Germany. When reunification took place, the German constitution automatically applied to the entire territory,» Michael Gahler explained.

The MEP also cited the example of Cyprus, part of which is occupied, but the country is a member of the EU. In his opinion, Ukraine can follow a similar path.

«Even if not all of Ukraine is under government control at the time of the ceasefire, nothing prevents us from negotiating your accession to the EU,» he said.

Michael Gahler clarified that the subject of the negotiations will be the membership of the whole of Ukraine within internationally recognised borders, not just the government-controlled territories. When the remaining regions return to government control, they will automatically be subject to EU rules.

«The presence of the occupied territories will definitely not prevent Ukraine from becoming an EU member,» the MEP concluded.

Ukraine's accession to the EU

Back in the autumn of 2023, Ukraine fully fulfilled four of the seven requirements for the candidate status.

In December 2023, at a summit in Brussels, EU leaders approved the European Commission's recommendation to open accession negotiations with Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the EU's decision to open negotiations a victory for the whole of Europe.

In January 2024, in preparation for the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, a screening meeting on Ukrainian legislation was held in Brussels.

And in September 2025, Ukraine and the European Commission started screening meetings on the last cluster of accession negotiations, which concerns agriculture.

At the time, European Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn noted that Ukraine' s planned accession to the EU could lead to an increase in the EU budget of up to 20%.

Subsequently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine had fulfilled all the conditions for starting negotiations on accession to the EU, and now the EU side must fulfil its obligations.

It should also be recalled that Hungary does not plan to agree to Ukraine and the European Union opening the first cluster of negotiations on the country's accession to the bloc.