Why Ukraine's accession will strengthen the EU – Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister

Europe Day, which Ukraine is celebrating together with the European Union for the second time on 9 May, embodies our most important aspirations – unity and peace. Ukraine has consistently demonstrated its commitment to these goals on its path to European integration.

As a full EU member, Ukraine will undoubtedly become stronger.

But Ukraine’s integration will also strengthen the European Union itself.

Read more about how exactly the EU will strengthen with Ukraine as a member in the article by Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine - Europe Day’s Ukrainian dimension. Why Ukraine is important to the EU.

Over the past year, the EU has published several studies on Ukraine's future integration. The main conclusion is that despite the full-scale war, there is still significant potential for growth, and Ukraine has several areas through which we can significantly strengthen the European Union.

Firstly, it's security. When Ukraine joins the EU, it will have one of the largest armies, with combat experience in resisting full-scale aggression from a country that has a significant advantage in terms of personnel, resources and funding.

Even now, our IT specialists can be extremely useful to the EU in the field of cybersecurity and the application of cutting-edge technologies. Our strategic communications experts have unique expertise in countering Russia’s propaganda machine and constant psyops.

Secondly, it's logistics. Ukraine could expand Europe’s logistics network eastward, becoming a new transport hub within the Europe-Asia transport corridors. 

In particular, maritime transport is extremely important to the European economy. Joining the EU single market will help Ukraine to realise its potential as a transit country.

Thirdly, it's agriculture. Ukraine is the last major market on the continent that is outside the EU. 

At the moment the Ukrainian agricultural sector is mainly viewed in terms of the challenges it will pose for Euro-integration, but it also offers opportunities.

Despite the war, Ukraine continues not only to export agricultural products but also to import them from the EU.

Ukraine's integration will have a positive impact on the EU’s food security and its position in global agricultural trade.

Ukraine’s experience, more resilient to external stresses and focused on maximum efficiency, can be shared and adapted to the realities faced by European producers, making the EU's agricultural sector even more efficient and competitive.

Fourtly, it's economy. So future expansion should also be considered in terms of additional opportunities to strengthen the competitiveness of the EU economy. 

It is about increased trading opportunities, enhanced energy security, improved resilience, a more secure supply chain, a wider range of goods and services, and so on.

And most importantly, it will reduce the EU single market’s dependence on third countries for raw materials and components by potentially integrating future new EU members into supply chains or relocating production to these countries.

The accession of each new member to the European Union comes with a price. Ukraine is no exception.

For example, the European think tank Bruegel estimates that the total annual cost of integrating Ukraine will be approximately 0.13% of the EU's GDP.

The EU budget may need to increase by around 20% when Ukraine joins. However, that is unlikely to change EU member states’ current positions as net recipients and net contributors of EU funds.

It’s not just spending that will increase when Ukraine joins the EU – revenues will also rise.