Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday, 22 May reaffirmed Italy's unconditional support for Ukraine's full membership of the European Union, while stressing that Kyiv must first meet the bloc's rigorous accession criteria — particularly in the area of anti-corruption reform. Tajani made the remarks on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden.

Italy's Position on Ukraine's EU Bid

'We are in favour of Ukraine joining the EU as a full member, but we must lay the groundwork to achieve this goal,' Tajani told reporters. He added that the 'ultimate goal' was to see Ukraine enter the EU as a full member, alongside Western Balkan countries — a priority he described as 'of crucial importance' to Italy.

Tajani noted that 'certain rules must be respected,' signalling that Rome does not support fast-tracking membership outside the established framework. He said he had discussed Italy's potential role in tackling graft directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a recent visit to Ukraine.

Italy's Anti-Corruption Offer to Kyiv

In a concrete show of support, Italy is reportedly prepared to deploy officers from its Guardia di Finanza — the country's tax police force, which has extensive experience in financial crime and anti-corruption operations — to assist Ukraine. According to Tajani, these officers are already in contact with Ukraine's economy and finance ministry.

'We are looking at how we can help combat corruption and thus help Ukraine comply with all the EU accession criteria. This is a concrete contribution,' he said. The offer underscores Italy's preference for practical, process-driven engagement over symbolic gestures.

Germany's 'Associate Membership' Proposal Adds Complexity

Tajani's remarks came a day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz floated an alternative path in a letter to EU leaders on Thursday. Merz proposed an 'associate membership' arrangement for Ukraine — one that would grant Ukrainian officials access to EU summits and ministerial meetings without voting rights.

Merz argued the move could help President Zelensky sell a peace agreement to the Ukrainian public to end the more-than-four-year-old Russian invasion. He also suggested the EU make a 'political commitment' to apply its mutual assistance clause to Ukraine, which he described as a 'substantial security guarantee' in the event Ukraine neither regains all its territory nor joins NATO.

Italy's insistence on the standard accession route stands in contrast to Berlin's more flexible framing, highlighting a divergence within the EU on how quickly — and under what terms — Ukraine should be integrated.

Where Ukraine's EU Accession Currently Stands

Ukraine applied for EU membership in February 2022, days after Russia's full-scale invasion, and formally began entry negotiations in June 2024. The accession process requires candidate countries to align with EU norms across 35 policy chapters — covering everything from justice and anti-corruption standards to agricultural and fisheries rules. All 27 EU member states must unanimously agree before each chapter can be opened and closed.

Senior European officials have acknowledged that full membership within the next few years is unrealistic. Notably, however, a 2027 entry date was reportedly included in a 20-point peace proposal discussed by Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in late December 2024. How that timeline squares with the technical demands of the accession process remains an open question as EU capitals weigh both the geopolitical urgency and institutional integrity of enlargement.