A group of MEPs from the Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations groups have challenged the European Commission over Ukraine's EU accession process following a presidential decree honouring the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). In a written parliamentary question dated 3 June 2026, the MEPs argue that the decree, signed by President Zelenskyy on 26 May 2026, glorifies a formation responsible for mass crimes against Poles, including the Volhynia genocide with up to 120,000 victims. They contend this contradicts EU values under Article 2 TEU and raises questions about Ukraine's moral readiness for membership.
The question, led by Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik (PfE) and co-signed by seven other MEPs, asks the Commission three specific points: whether it considers the commemoration of a genocide-perpetrating formation incompatible with EU values; whether it will condemn Ukrainian chauvinism and make further negotiations conditional on ending the glorification of war criminals; and whether it still pursues rapid Ukrainian accession given the historical sensitivities in member states. The MEPs reference Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's recent announcement of 'decisive steps' in Ukraine's accession process, framing the decree as a direct challenge to that trajectory.
an official condemnation and a conditionality mechanism linking negotiations to Ukraine's historical policy. It reflects a cleavage between EU integration ambitions and national sovereignty over historical memory, with implications for EU-Ukraine relations and the bloc's enlargement framework. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it views the decree as a bilateral historical dispute or a fundamental values issue affecting accession criteria.
EU-Ukraine accession talks could face delays or additional conditions if the Commission takes the MEPs' position; Ukrainian authorities may face pressure to adjust historical policy; Polish and other Central European constituencies with strong historical memory see their sensitivities acknowledged; and EU enlargement advocates may see the process politicised by historical grievances.