Ukraine's integration will not only transform Ukraine, but also strengthen EU's position on global stage — Director General for Europe and Economic Affairs Elisabeth Kornfeind

Ukraine’s journey toward European Union membership has become a defining moment for both Ukraine and the EU. Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine’s commitment to reforms and European integration has been met with strong support from European partners.

Elisabeth Kornfeind, Director General for Europe and Economic Affairs, former Ambassador to Belgium and NATO, offers valuable perspective on this process. Her background in European integration and economic cooperation sheds light on both the achievements so far and the challenges ahead.

This conversation explores Ukraine’s progress, the lessons of past EU enlargements, and the importance of sustained international support as Ukraine and the EU navigate a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

I would like to begin by asking about your overall perspective on Ukraine's journey toward the European Union. How do you assess the current state of Ukraine's integration process?

Let me start by saying that we see a lot of support from both sides for the accession process: from Ukraine, which applied for EU membership in February 2022 and is now already in negotiations, and, of course, also from the European Union, which supports Ukraine in many ways—not only through the accession process, but also through financial aid, technical support, and, of course, a lot of diplomatic efforts.

Ukraine, despite being in a very difficult situation due to the ongoing war, is doing a lot and is intensely committed to the whole process.

Austria has long played an influential role in economic cooperation and diplomacy. In what ways can your country contribute to Ukraine's accession to the European Union?

Austria has demonstrated its strong commitment to Ukraine's European path. This commitment comes not only from the official side; we also see many businesses remaining active in Ukraine, even during the war, and there are many family ties. So, I think there is a genuinely close relationship between our country and Ukraine.

Of course, if asked, we can provide advice on how to navigate the accession process. But let me be clear: it is mainly a process between Ukraine and the European institutions. It is the standard procedure all EU candidate countries have to go through.

We work together with the European institutions and we're seeing good progress, though there is still a long way ahead. We will continue to support Ukraine on this journey. 

Ms. Kornfeind, drawing on your professional experience, what are the key lessons from previous EU enlargements that could be applied to Ukraine’s accession process?

The enlargement process is always unique for each country. What we have observed in the major enlargement rounds—and Austria was a relatively recent EU member when many Eastern European countries joined—is that the process requires patience, dedication, and genuine reform paths with real implementation of requirements. 

What makes this situation unprecedented is that we have no prior example of accession during wartime. Ukraine's case is therefore quite unique. Moreover, the size of Ukraine is substantial, this will require adaptations from many sides.

Patience and continued work are probably the essence of the enlargement process on both sides. We also advocate that bilateral issues should not be part of the enlargement process. The two things should be kept separate. Sometimes countries need to talk about specific issues, but I think the whole accession process, as technical and difficult as it is, should be followed in exactly that spirit. It should be merit-based and should actually advance the candidate countries toward the European path. Gradual integration is especially important.

The integration process is so long and demanding, and for sure, a lot still needs to be done. But what do you see as the most significant achievements in Ukraine-Europe relations so far?

The biggest achievement is that we are already at the negotiation table. When you compare it to other candidate countries, they were in candidacy status for a very long period, in some cases up to 18 years or more. In the case of Ukraine, this process started extremely quickly, also due to the tasks that were fulfilled on the Ukrainian side.

As I mentioned before, I can only commend the many civil servants and institutions that contribute to this process and have worked extremely hard, especially under these difficult circumstances.

And what about the remaining challenges on the road to full membership?

The multitude of requirements to become an EU member state and participate in the common market involves meeting numerous technical standards. This vast implementation task represents the biggest challenge. It is important to stay the course and remain dedicated to Europe, not to be discouraged because the process is lengthy, technical, and tiring.

Ukraine is a big country, with many oblasts and different situations that have developed over the years. Drawing a comparison to Austria, I remember that every small region has different requirements. To stay the course, to keep the aim in sight, and to see the accession through—this will be the biggest challenge. And, of course, it is important to take the citizens along on this journey, because ultimately, it is also their journey towards Europe.

I wonder, in your view, how can the international community help Ukraine keep up the energy and support needed for this journey?

What is extremely important is continuing our support in multiple ways—whether on the ground, through interaction with the administration, in Brussels, financially, or through our businesses. Austria is especially dedicated to maintaining this support.

It's worth noting that Ukraine and the European Union already have very strong ties. There are numerous agreements and initiatives through which the European Union and Ukraine collaborate.

As far as my country is concerned, I am sure we will work together. We already have well-established relationships on many levels. It will be important to strengthen those, to continue those, and also to make sure that the Ukrainian people see the benefits of coming closer to the European Union.

Ms. Ambassador, you mentioned that Ukraine and Europe are already deepening their relationship in many areas. In your opinion, what fields of cooperation should be prioritized in the coming years?

It encompasses all areas. We already have numerous sectors with significant efforts underway through the Ukraine Facility. Europe also contributes substantially to reconstruction, which is of utmost importance as it demonstrates that this path continues and delivers tangible benefits for the people.

So I would not exclude any area, because our policies are already so strongly intertwined in many ways. When you look at the council formations, there are so many Ukrainian politicians also participating. I think the awareness on both sides to continue this journey is already very strong.

All of this is happening amid rising geopolitical tensions and new challenges for Europe. How do you see these factors influencing Ukraine's path to EU membership?

We must always consider what is happening on a global scale. These challenges are not unique to Ukraine; they also concern other candidate countries, especially the Western Balkans. The current environment clearly demonstrates that we need to strengthen our unity.

In that sense, I would say that what has happened, and what is happening with the accession process, is exactly the right answer to global tensions and challenges. At the same time, it is also a technical process, so it will not necessarily lead to a more rapid advancement. But, of course, the fact that these global challenges exist, and that they are present for Europe, is certainly clear.

We hope that in this process, the momentum will also encourage other countries to implement the necessary reforms.

Do you believe Europe has the resilience and political will to sustain long-term support for Ukraine’s path to EU membership?

I would say yes. When you look at the funds that have been mobilized to support Ukraine, it is, in European Union terms, a clear signal that this support will continue and that the process will move forward. Once the accession process is started and both sides work on it thoroughly and honestly, it will also lead to results.

It's always a risk to say that results are coming, because sometimes it simply takes time. What we always stress is that it needs to work, so it is a merit-based process. But I think the good spirit and the goal are very strong on both sides—both on the European Union side and on the Ukrainian side. To have the resilience to continue, I think this is exactly what we all have to work on.

Finally, looking to the future, we’d love to hear your vision. How do you imagine Ukraine and the European Union will be transformed by this integration?

My personal vision is to extend these achievements to Ukraine. We have accomplished free movement, the opportunity to study in all EU member states, and the right to settle in different EU countries. This sense of European citizenship, which will eventually extend to Ukraine, represents the greatest achievement.