Examining Ukraine’s EU Candidate Status: (When) Does the Accession Process Turn from Political to Legal?

Authors

  • Christoph Schewe University of Applied Sciences Kiel-Altenholz/Reinfeld
  • Arnis Buka Faculty of Law, University of Latvia
  • Edmunds Broks Faculty of Law, University of Latvia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1157-745X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22364/jull.17.06

Keywords:

EU candidate country, European Council, accession to the EU, enlargement of the EU, Ukraine, Court of Justice of the European Union

Abstract

This article explores the nature of the notion “candidate country status” in the context of EU accession. In particular it enquires whether the candidate status, which was granted to Ukraine by the European Council on 23 June 2022, has any actual legal implications or is the whole accession process up to the point where accession agreement is signed entirely devoid of legal consequences. Legal doctrine seems to generally answer this question in the affirmative, explaining that the candidate status was a rather political concept bearing primarily symbolic relevance. However, the example of Ukraine, which was granted candidate status much more rapidly than a number of other countries before it, challenges to explore the topic in more depth, in particular by delving into the CJEU’s existing case law on candidate status and the possibility of challenging the granting of candidate status through litigation in the CJEU.

Author Biographies

  • Christoph Schewe, University of Applied Sciences Kiel-Altenholz/Reinfeld

    Dr. iur. 
    University of Applied Sciences Kiel-Altenholz/Reinfeld
    Professor

  • Arnis Buka, Faculty of Law, University of Latvia

    Dr. iur.
    Faculty of Law, University of Latvia
    Docent at the Department of International and EU Law

     

  • Edmunds Broks, Faculty of Law, University of Latvia

    Dr. iur. 
    Faculty of Law, University of Latvia
    Docent at the Department of International and EU Law

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Published

2024-10-27

How to Cite

Schewe, C., Buka, A., & Broks, E. (2024). Examining Ukraine’s EU Candidate Status: (When) Does the Accession Process Turn from Political to Legal?. Journal of the University of Latvia. Law, 17, 94-108. https://doi.org/10.22364/jull.17.06