Ukraine in the EU? Lessons from the Case of Poland’s Accession

12 March 2024, 18:15 - 19:45
Hörsaal Orangerie, Europainstitut, Riehenstrasse 154, Basel

Organizer: Institute for European Global Studies

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Although the current war in Ukraine was forced on the country, it is in one sense a matter of choice - between Ukraine’s past as a part of the Soviet Union (or greater Russia), or a future in the EU family. The war has accelerated the latter course, and a roadmap towards membership negotiations should be prepared in March 2024. But it is not only the war with Russia that should be taken into account during negotiations. The prospect of Ukraine’s accession exhibits many differences from previous enlargements, but also some similarities to that of 2004/2007. Of particular interest is Poland, where accession negotiations and membership have changed the current debate compared to older traditions of thinking about Europe and European integration. A comparison of attitudes presented by Polish and Ukrainian elites toward European integration shows what challenges arise from historical experiences and perceptions prevalent in the former postcommunist states.

Dr hab. Sławomir Łukasiewicz is a historian, political scientist, and Europeanist. He is the recipient of the 2019/2020 Fulbright Senior Award. From 2019 to 2023 he was an associate and visiting scholar at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University. From 2015 to 2019 he was director of the Institute of European Studies at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland, where he is professor of European Studies.