The Czechs are working to ensure that Ukraine can become a member of the European Union as soon as possible. They are sending money, weapons and providing know-how. However, the question mark hangs over whether they can persuade other countries to do the same, or at least not to throw sticks under Kyiv's feet.
Written by Ondřej Plevák | Euractiv.cz
Ukraine's accession to the EU is a challenging process which could take several years. Czechia clearly supports the Ukrainian path towards the EU and according to independent experts, this is not just a phrase; the Czech support is real and sincere.
“This is not only in terms of geopolitical interest and the gradual stabilisation of the Eastern neighbourhood, but also with regard to economic opportunities, new markets, opportunities related to reconstruction (of Ukraine), etc.,” believes Pavel Havlíček, an analyst at the Prague-based Association for International Affairs (AMO).
“However, the geopolitical and security level really play a major role, also in the context of the future development of the Russian war against Ukraine, which directly threatens us,” he added.
Michal Vít, an expert on enlargement policy from the Metropolitan University Prague, agrees that Ukraine “really is an absolute priority” for Czech diplomacy.
However, Vít believes that it is not enough to label something as a priority. “The question is not whether it is a priority for us, but whether the Czech foreign policy system is ready to implement full support at the EU level and whether Czechia is able to capitalise on its influence, especially in Brussels. Here I am not so convinced,” he argued.
Advice and money
At least at first glance, it seems that the Czechs are really trying to get Ukraine to join the EU as soon as possible.
“At the very beginning it was through advocacy and persuading other countries to open talks (with Ukraine), today it is more about transferring know-how and skills and experience from the transition to liberal democracy and market economy. It is also through cooperation with other like-minded countries, including Poland and its (EU) presidency, which is actively working on this agenda,” Pavel Havlíček summarised.
The Czech Foreign Ministry offered more details on how and where the Czech Republic is helping and supporting Ukraine. In addition to the EU and bilateral level, this is done, for example, through other international organisations, namely the OECD, the UN and UNESCO.
Several Czech activities are directly related to the accession process. “In January 2025, the Czech Republic is submitting to the General Affairs Council a non-paper on the gradual integration of Ukraine and Moldova into the EU internal market, which specifically elaborates measures in selected important sectors for the coming period,” said Mariana Wernerová, head of the ministry’s media relations department, referring to one of the more recent Czech steps.
Czechs also share their experiences. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with other ministries, organised several seminars for Ukrainian civil servants focusing on the integration process, agriculture, cohesion policy and funds. It organises online consultations or visits of Ukrainian officials to specific ministries or offices in the Czech Republic,” Wernerová said, adding that the Czech administration is also involved in training Ukrainian NGOs.
But to be truly ready for membership, Ukraine needs money for all the changes and reforms. For example, the Czech Republic is said to have “actively participated” in the negotiations on the EU's €50 billion Ukraine Facility for 2024-2027 and the Ukraine Recovery Plan, where it is also promoting the involvement of Czech companies.
“The Czech Republic has been supporting the democratic transformation of Ukraine and its rapprochement with the EU since 2014. 500 million Czech crowns (€20 million) is allocated each year under the Humanitarian, Stabilisation, Reconstruction and Economic Assistance Programme for Ukraine for the period 2023-2025,” Wernerová added.
Due to Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, Czechia is also sending energy production equipment and mobile water treatment equipment. This year, it plans to focus on healthcare assistance in the form of modular medical facilities, equipment for a rehabilitation centre and projects aimed at treating patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
In addition to money and material aid, Kyiv also needs weapons, and the Czech Republic is one of the largest suppliers of military aid (in relation to GDP). In addition to supplies worth billions of Czech crowns, this includes finding other contributors through the Czech Ammunition Initiative or training thousands of Ukrainian soldiers under EUMAM.
Room for improvement
Yet experts see “gaps” where the Czech Republic could improve.
“I feel that much more can definitely be done in terms of transferring experience and training officials,” Pavel Havlíček thinks.
“At the same time, we need to work more on society-wide support for this (accession) process, which is at an all-time low in the Czech Republic. This support will be really decisive for further steps and opening of individual chapters and so-called clusters of chapters,” he warned.
Although Michal Vít acknowledges that the Czech Republic is “positively out of line” with the EU average in its political support for Ukraine, he pointed to more general weaknesses in Czech diplomacy.
“In terms of the enlargement process itself, the Czech Republic has not been able to successfully implement alliances in which it would be able to use its strengths,” Vít believes.
“If we look at, for example, the ammunition initiative, in practical terms it would be possible for the Czech Republic to gain significantly more if it could capitalise on its influence politically. I don't see a major shift here,” the expert said, adding that Czechia should have a political strategy for exerting its influence and finding allies.
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