Ukraine’s accession to the European Union (EU) would cost the bloc a whopping €186 billion ($195 billion) over seven years and require root and branch reform of the entire union, according to an internal note of the Council of the EU.
The document claims all member states would have to pay more into the EU and receive less upon Ukraine‘s incorporation, with many current net receivers forced to become net contributors. Germany, France, and the Netherlands would be required to “significant[ly] increase” their contributions as wealthier nations.
Kiev would instantly qualify for €61 billion ($64 billion) from the EU’s Cohesion Fund – allocated to many of the poorer member states to improve their infrastructure – which would render nine members, including the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Slovenia, ineligible for the funding.
It would also receive €96.5 billion ($101.5 billion) from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, which would cut current farming subsidies given to members by 20 percent, alongside several other projects costing tens of billions.
The estimates come as the EU discusses expansion further east into Ukraine as well as eight other states, such as Moldova, Georgia, and six Balkan countries. The total cost of incorporating all nine nations would be around €250 billion ($262.9 billion). There was no consideration given to Turkey’s potential membership.
“Whilst for several policies, opportunities may outweigh the costs/risks, and enlargement will bring benefits to the current member states, enlargement will also have far-reaching impacts on the EU budget,” the document states.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned that plans for Ukraine’s accession are currently “going nowhere,” highlighting Ukraine’s long-standing oppression of its Hungarian minority as a key factor.
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