According to the will of the Union faction, in addition to Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova should also achieve EU candidate status.
The opposition CDU/CSU is preparing a motion for a resolution that the Bundestag will use in the week after next to call on the government to “grant candidate status” to all three countries at the EU summit meeting on June 23.
The explanatory statement states that it is in the EU's strategic interest to "support these countries with all our might on their way to membership".
If their European connection fails, then there is a risk that “an entire region will fall under the Russian or Chinese sphere of influence”.
Johannes Leithauser
Political correspondent in Berlin.
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The European Council at the end of June must give the three countries, like the states of the Western Balkans, "a clear perspective" for EU accession;
the opening of “the first accession chapters” must also be promised.
According to the will of the Union faction, however, it should apply that the criteria for membership in the EU would have to be met "in full".
A shortening of the procedure is "neither in the interest of Ukraine nor the EU".
It is in Germany's and Europe's interest that the accession candidates achieve stability, the rule of law, solid democratic structures and prosperity in the "long term".
In order to be able to offer the candidate states "tangible results" during what may be a lengthy accession process, "a new model, for example in the form of associated membership" is to be created.
In its motion, the Union faction argues that accession countries should be able to participate in joint funding programs before they finally become EU members.
Finally, the CDU/CSU formulates that the Bundestag should call on the government "to work within the EU to ensure that Ukraine is given a "promise that goes beyond short-term concern and symbolic gestures".
In order to be able to honestly give this promise, Ukraine must be understood as an independent free state.