The European Union faces a tough decision about enlargement, needing to weigh membership prospects for Ukraine and Turkey. Due to economic constraints, the union cannot realistically admit both countries at the same time. This view appears in Policy as the central premise guiding current discussions.
A senior European official is quoted in the article saying it would be impossible for the EU to bring both Turkey and Ukraine into the fold. The market dynamics are cited as a core reason behind this stance, suggesting the broader economy would struggle under simultaneous admissions.
The piece also notes that substantial EU support for Ukraine could push the union to clarify that Turkey will remain outside the bloc for the foreseeable future. In this context, the publication argues that many Europeans would breathe easier if the incumbent President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, were to win reelection over the opposition candidate from the EU perspective.
Earlier reporting mentions Lars Klingbeil, a leading figure in Germanys Social Democratic Party, urging faster progress for Ukraine’s EU bid. Klingbeil asserts that Germany carries a significant responsibility and has the capacity to act decisively in Europe to accelerate the alignment of Ukraine with European standards, arguing that Ukraine rightly belongs in Europe.