Ukraine's EU Membership Bid Explained

WonderWhy is this kind of channel that uploads so infrequently that I forget I'm subscribed to them, so it's always a delight to see them upload once more

The challenges are very steep and are a mixture of economic and political reasons. 1. The 2 biggest items in the EU budget are subsides for farmers (CAP) and grants to poorer regions (Cohesion and Social funding). If Ukraine joins, it will instantly be the poorest (per capita GDP is 1/3 of Bulgaria's) and largest farmer country. Unless Germany or Netherlands is willing to write extra hundred billion euro checks to the EU (good luck with that), that will have to reallocated from other countries. I am sure the farmers and citizens of countries such as Poland, Bulgaria, Romanian are all willing to forgo tens if not hundreds of billions of euros for Ukraine. 2. Migration. If Ukraine does join Schengen, I fully expect hundreds of thousands if not millions of Ukrainians will legally move to the west. It makes sense given better economic opportunities in places like Germany. Most will be young and educated. A similar pattern is seen in places like Poland and the Baltic countries (all of them have smaller population post entering the EU). That will steer massive social tension in countries like Germany or France. When Poland entered, there was so much migration to places like the UK, that a stereotype of the "Polish Plumber" stealing jobs was created. It was so strong, that it is widely considered one of the leading causes behind Brexit. This stuff is beyond the fact that Ukraine is still currently engaged in a protracted conflict with Russia.

It's always a good day when a new WonderWhy video drops

Let’s be realistic, Ukraine is not joining the EU anytime soon. The next country to join the EU will (outside of unpredictable events) be Montenegro.

As a Moldovan citizen, a pro-european one, I am also some kind of realist. I don't view joining EU as a magic pill, that once country joins EU - all the issues are solved instantly. As I understand, the accession is a long process, which itself is step by step improving the country.

Aside from the issues with Ukraine specifically joining there seems to be a growing feeling that there should be a freeze in expansion in general in order to focus on internal EU reform

EU would never accept a new member state with ongoing armed conflict within its territory.

The biggest Ukrainian problem is corruption. Althouht we did a significant steps to combat it, the situation is still far from even the most corrupt countries in EU. The problem is that the old generation still cannot live without it. they were reaised in ussr bureaucracy that simply couldn't function without corruption, so this older generation simply cannot understand how to live otherwise. The situation is changing with the new generation but this is a long and a very slow process

I really wanted the source for that study comparing time it took between candidacy and accession

While I'm in support of Ukraine joining the EU. It will be very difficult to join. Ukraine has to win the war and rebuild which will take a while which will make very difficult for the country to join.

Turkey has started this accession negotiations in 2012 and it’s still continues like a lame duck!!! And I don’t believe that Ukraine will be faster than us… Cause Turkey, as country is 10 times richer and more advanced than Ukraine!!!

Let me help y’all out…its never happening

He's back 😍

Great video.

Great video

I don't see anyone new being admitted before we get rid of the veto. Hungary and Poland has shown that giving everyone the power to block most important proposals is untenable.

Never ever will happen.........

in upcoming 50 years here is zero chances

Ukraine is a tragic case because they actually fight and die to become part of the EU but at the same time, numbers dont lie and Ukraine would be a financial bottomless pit so i dont think anyone actually wants them to join. Furthermore Ukraine is demographically dead which only exacerbates the financial burden they would represent.

great video