Die Ukraine und ihr EU-Beitritt. Chancen und Herausforderungen im Beitrittsprozess. Podiumsgespräch mit Dr. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann und Oleksii Makeiev

The outcome of the war in Ukraine remains uncertain - which makes it all the more important to start thinking about the future of Europe now. This discussion is intended to broaden our perspective: away from the day-to-day reporting on the course of the front and arms deliveries and towards the long-term prospects for the European community. Ukraine's possible accession to the EU would be a historic turning point - not only for Ukraine itself, but also for the European Union. Ukraine has enormous potential: For example, Ukraine's accession to the EU would significantly expand the internal market and open up new trade routes. Ukraine is also considered the "breadbasket of Europe" and has a strong technology sector. With one of the strongest and battle-tested armies on the continent, Ukraine can also significantly strengthen the EU's security and defense. At the same time, with Ukraine as a member, the geographical center of the EU is moving further east. This has far-reaching strategic implications: The EU would be faced with another external border with Russia. New alliances could emerge, for example between Central Eastern European member states and Ukraine, which would change the balance within the Union.

What opportunities arise for the EU as a whole - and what challenges need to be overcome? We want to discuss all of this together. After a welcoming address by Judith Pirscher, former State Secretary(member of the Board of Trustees of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, lawyer), Dr. Monika Jung-Mounib (journalist and author) will give an introduction entitled "Ukraine as an EU accession candidate". This will be followed by a discussion with Dr. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann MEP (Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense (SEDE) of the European Parliament) and Oleksii Makeiev (Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany). The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Monika Jung-Mounib.

Registration via the Friedrich Naumann Foundation here.

An event organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in cooperation with the Gerhart-Hauptmann-Haus Foundation.