The proposal that every new member state be subject to a strengthened framework of safeguards for up to 15 years after its accession, during which it could lose voting rights or funding in the event of a serious violation of EU values, was presented today by the European Commission as part of the package “Preparing for a Wider Union.”
The package, announced by the Commission and presented by Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos in Strasbourg, examines how the Union’s governance, policies, and the Union’s budget for future enlargements, while the Commission also seeks a more flexible decision-making process.
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“We must be certain that, once they join, they will never again fall below these standards. And that is something we have learned from past experiences. This is about protecting the Union itself,” said Marta Kos.
The new institutional safeguard will address serious violations of the values set forth in Article 2 of the Treaty, as well as the principle of sincere cooperation under Article 4. “We want stronger safeguards for any new member state in the event of a serious backsliding on the commitments it made during negotiations, particularly with regard to the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights,” the Commissioner said.
Measures that could be taken include cutting or suspending financial assistance and restricting voting rights in the Council. “We want to make it easier to suspend financial support or restrict voting rights,” Kos said, describing the new safeguard as a “safety net” for the Union.
The Commission insists that the mechanism does not create a “second-class” status for the new member states. “All member states—and I want to emphasize this in particular—will enjoy equal rights. This includes the new members as well. We do not want a two-speed accession,” Ms. Kos stressed.
According to the Commission, the new safeguard will complement Article 7 and will be easier to activate in the event of serious violations. The implementation period for the relevant safeguards for new member states will be significantly extended compared to the current three-year framework, with a Commission official citing, by way of example, a duration of up to 10 or even 15 years.
At the same time, the Commission is proposing changes to the decision-making process, with greater use of passerelle clauses and an expansion of qualified majority voting where permitted by the Treaties. “It is possible to reduce the number of areas in which a single country can veto decisions supported by all the others—for example, on sanctions or the fight against tax fraud,” she said.
The Commission also proposes a qualified majority for certain intermediate stages of the accession process, while final accession will continue to require unanimity.
At the same time, candidate countries will be able to join selected EU policies earlier and gradually, provided they carry out the necessary reforms and align themselves strategically with the Union. “Gradual integration is not a substitute for full membership. It is the catalyst for enlargement,” Ms. Kos stated.
Participation will be reversible and will involve countries that share the EU’s values and strategic interests, with the Commission prioritizing integration in areas such as energy, transportation, artificial intelligence, security, and defense.
In the enlargement package on October 28, the Commission intends to present indicative roadmaps for the four “front-runner” candidate countries, Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine. The roadmaps will include next steps, indicative timelines, and specific deliverables, without, however, creating shortcuts in the accession process.
“The process will continue to be based on the achievements of each candidate country. There will be no shortcuts,” Ms. Kos emphasized.
For Ukraine, the Commission is also proposing targeted arrangements for sensitive agricultural products to ensure that accession does not have negative consequences for European farmers, while the assessment of the agricultural sector will be taken into account in discussions on the opening of Cluster 5.
“Enlargement is feasible today,” the Commissioner concluded. “However, there are areas where we see challenges that we must address,” including the size of the institutions and the need for “more flexible and effective decision-making.”
The EU Permanent Representatives will discuss the proposals set out in the Commission’s working document for the first time on Wednesday during their meeting.
Source: CNA
