On July 14, Marianna Fakhurdínova, coordinadora del Programa de Asociación UE-Ucrania en el Transatlantic Dialogue Center, joined the New Europe Center’s online discussion, “Getting Ready for the ‘Ukrainian Plumber’ in the EU? Key Narratives of Resistance to EU Enlargement – and How to Counter Them.” The event brought together experts from Ukraine, France, and Germany to examine public attitudes towards Ukraine’s future EU membership and discuss how concerns about enlargement can be addressed.
The discussion also featured Leo Litra, Senior Fellow at the New Europe Center and Senior Policy Fellow at ECFR; Susan Stewart, Senior Fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP); and Benjamin Couteau, Research Fellow at the Jacques Delors Institute. Sergiy Solodkyy, Director of the New Europe Center, moderated the event.
Opening the discussion, Solodkyy highlighted uneven public support for Ukraine’s accession across EU member states. Citing Eurobarometer findings, he noted that 52% of EU citizens supported Ukraine’s membership, while support remained below 50% in ten member states, including Germany and France, at 47% and 48% respectively.
Participants examined concerns related to economic competition, the rule of law, migration, security, and agriculture, as well as the influence of Russian disinformation. They emphasised that Ukraine’s accession should be presented not only as a Ukrainian objective, but also as a strategic opportunity for the EU.
Litra argued that much of the resistance stems from misconceptions about previous waves of enlargement rather than from Ukraine specifically. He stressed that Ukraine brings a distinctive security argument: Europe and the EU would be safer with Ukraine inside the Union. Stewart highlighted the need to explain how previous enlargements benefited both candidate countries and existing member states. Couteau noted that France’s increasingly supportive political stance since 2022 has not yet been fully reflected in public debate, and called for communication focused on Ukraine’s contribution to European sovereignty through defence, technology, and food security.
Marianna Fakhurdinova: Addressing Concerns and Demonstrating Ukraine’s Added Value
In her remarks, Fakhurdinova stressed that Ukraine’s path towards EU membership depends not only on reforms, but also on understanding and responding to the concerns of European societies. Many fears surrounding enlargement reflect genuine political, economic, or social concerns rather than hostility towards Ukraine, she argued, and should be addressed openly rather than dismissed.
She called for country-specific communication strategies, recognising that attitudes towards enlargement vary according to each member state’s historical experience, domestic politics, and economic priorities. A single message for all European audiences will not be sufficient. Cooperation with local experts, civil society representatives, and opinion leaders can help build credible support for Ukraine’s accession.
Referring to the “Polish plumber” debate during previous waves of enlargement, Fakhurdinova argued that Ukraine’s image should not be reduced to a single stereotype. Alongside the Ukrainian farmer, she highlighted the Ukrainian drone producer, soldier, and AI and IT entrepreneurs as examples of the expertise and capabilities Ukraine can bring to the EU.
She also pointed to a communication challenge: the reinforcing cycle between political rhetoric, media coverage, and public opinion. Politicians often justify their positions by citing public attitudes, while those attitudes are themselves shaped by political and media narratives. Ukraine therefore needs to engage not only policymakers, but also broader European societies.
A central message of her remarks was that Ukraine should explain not only why concerns about accession can be addressed, but also how its membership would strengthen the EU. This includes engaging with what she described as “positive fears” – concerns that Ukraine could become a strong and competitive success story within the European market.
Fakhurdinova further stressed that Ukraine is already contributing to European security. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the EU has begun financing military assistance to a third country, developed new defence instruments, and assumed a stronger security role.
Finally, she called for an honest discussion of the EU’s own structural challenges, including labour shortages, food security, critical raw materials, and defence capabilities. Rather than presenting Ukraine primarily as a competitor, communication should show how it can complement the EU and strengthen its resilience, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy.
The discussion underscored that successful accession will require both reforms and sustained public support across EU member states. Addressing legitimate concerns, countering misinformation, and tailoring communication to national audiences will be essential to demonstrating the benefits of Ukraine’s membership.
Read the experts’ key messages and comments on the New Europe Center’s website.
The event was organized by the New Europe Center with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The views and positions expressed during the event are those of the experts and do not necessarily reflect the position of the International Renaissance Foundation.