Former Finnish PM Sanna Marin has described the war in Ukraine as ‘a struggle for the principles that form the core of the European project’
New TBI report provides a comprehensive analysis of the implications of Ukraine joining the EU.
Report highlights the potential for Ukraine to strengthen EU's defence capabilities, enhance its technological and energy sectors, and in the longer-term contribute to its digital and economic prospects
Former Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin has said that the European response to Russian aggression must include a credible path for Ukrainian European Union (EU) membership.
Ms Marin has written the foreword to ‘The Benefits and Opportunities of Ukraine’s EU Accession’, a new report from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) which provides a comprehensive analysis of the implications of Ukraine joining the EU.
Authors Amalia Khachatryan, Dan Sleat and Antonia Battaglia set out the potential for Ukraine to strengthen EU's defence capabilities, enhance its technological and energy sectors, and contribute to agricultural and economic prospects.
The report has been published ahead of key meetings to discuss Ukrainian accession at the General Affairs Council and European Council this month.
In the foreword Ms Marin, who is now a TBI Strategic Counsellor, writes:
“The ongoing war in Ukraine is not just a regional crisis but a struggle for the principles that form the core of the European project: sovereignty, democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
“Russia’s attempt to move the borders of a European country by force is not only an act of abandoning the European security architecture. It is an attempt to reset the rules and question whether democracies will defend the post-war multilateral system. Do nations have the right to live in peace, choosing their own paths, or do we allow authoritarian leaders to override these long-held principles?
“The European response to Russian aggression must address these same core questions.
“This means that we have to defend the rules-based world order by showing a credible path for applicant countries such as Ukraine to join the EU once they have fulfilled the conditions for membership – a realistic goal that is achievable with European support.
“Ukraine’s path to EU membership will demand substantial political, economic, and structural adjustments from both Ukraine and the EU. However, the potential rewards are significant. Ukraine’s membership will strengthen our collective security and reinforce our commitment to democratic principles and human rights.”