Ukraine’s economic and legislative integration with the EU advanced significantly before Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine, which provided a good basis for rapidly approving Ukraine’s EU candidate status after the invasion started. What is the state of play with Ukraine’s EU accession bid? How can EU support during the war and in the subsequent reconstruction period incentivise reforms in Ukraine to foster the country’s preparedness for EU accession? Is there a need to reform the EU’s accession process? How to treat Western Balkan countries – which have long been waiting for progress with their accession attempt – and Ukraine equally?
