Future Forum: Focus on Ukraine – Integration into the EU market on May 26th!

Future Forum: Focus on Ukraine – Integration into the EU market on May 26th!

On May 22, 2025, the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) is looking forward to a diverse program of events. The university has set itself the goal of promoting knowledge transfer and discourse on important social issues.

One of the upcoming events is the online exchange entitled “OER meets AI – Opportunities and Challenges”, which will take place on May 26th at 11:00 a.m. This is organized by the “Community for Knowledge Transfer OER: Network of Educational Actors (Co-WOERK)” project and is aimed at teachers, students and pupils. Registrations are possible by email to kontakt@co-woerk.de.

Lecture on the integration of Ukraine into the EU market

On the same day at 6:00 p.m. the Ukraine Lecture Series will be held with a lecture by Dr. Julia Langbein (ZOiS) continued. Her topic, “How to manage integration into the EU market: Lessons from Eastern Enlargement for Ukraine’s EU Accession,” covers key aspects of Ukraine’s EU integration and lessons from eastern enlargement that are relevant to Kiev.

This discussion comes at a critical time as the EU grapples with the challenges of the Ukraine conflict and the geopolitical landscape. Relations between Ukraine and the EU experienced a difficult period before the full-scale Russian invasion on February 24, 2022. Ukrainian government officials expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of progress towards EU accession, despite extensive reform efforts. The debate about EU enlargement hardly took place due to a lack of commitment from EU member states, and Ukraine was often viewed as a neighbor, not as a potential member state.

Brussels largely ignored the initiative of the “Associated Trio,” which included Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova and sought support for their membership aspirations. Ukraine found it was unable to convince larger EU states to invest more in its security. However, this changed dramatically after Russian aggression, which led Ukraine to clearly state its desire for EU and NATO membership.

Current challenges and reforms

Dr. Langbein's presentation highlights the need for urgent reforms and the fundamental challenges that Ukraine must overcome on its path to EU integration. According to Laszlo Bruszt, the EU emphasizes that a successful integration strategy takes into account the state of political institutions and the construction of a stable state. Ukraine has made significant progress in reforms since 2014, but faces massive challenges such as corruption and inefficient state structures.

Tymofiy Mylovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics, also raised alarming reports of deteriorating conditions in Ukraine due to the war and called for urgent macroeconomic support to prevent an economic collapse. Viktor Orban and some other critics warn that hasty EU enlargement is not always compatible with the values ​​of liberal democracy, to which Milada Vachudova notes that there is an urgent need to guarantee a meritocratic approach to the EU accession process.

The upcoming lecture and the other events at the university demonstrate the continued relevance of the discussion about Ukraine's EU integration and the geopolitical consequences of the conflict. Interest in EU enlargement is increasing again, particularly in view of the security policy and economic issues that need to be addressed in the context of war. The support of the international community remains crucial for Ukraine to advance its reform agenda and enable EU accession in the long term.

Further events include the research colloquium “Humanitarian and Legal Breaks: Normative Orders in Sea Rescue” on May 27th and the book presentation “Exiled Intellectuals” on May 28th. an exhibition entitled “Where is this East Germany actually located?” opens on May 23rd to address prejudices against East Germany.

To find out more about the full event program, visit the official website European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder).