A group of European Union member states has proposed that future members of the bloc be granted only limited rights during a transitional period following accession.
Among the key restrictions under consideration is a proposal to limit the voting rights of newly admitted member states.
“The EU should conduct a detailed discussion on the possibility of temporary transitional limitations on the voting rights of new member states, particularly in areas of the EU acquis where unanimity is required [such as enlargement, the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and the Multiannual Financial Framework], taking into account the legal and political sensitivities involved,” states a non-paper signed by Germany, France and the Benelux countries — Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
According to the report, the document was obtained by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
A non-paper is an informal diplomatic document commonly used within European institutions to present new ideas, test positions, or propose solutions without committing the authors to a formal policy stance.
At present, Montenegro is considered the only country with a realistic prospect of joining the EU in the near future, as the European Union has already established an ad hoc working group to draft its accession treaty.
This marks the first time in 17 years that the EU has begun work on an accession treaty, following the process launched for Croatia in 2009.
Croatia became a full EU member in 2013, making the period since then the longest in the bloc’s history without enlargement.
The document notes that the geopolitical environment has changed significantly since Croatia’s accession and argues that enlargement is no longer viewed solely as a merit-based technical process but also as a strategic investment in Europe’s peace, security, stability and prosperity.
The authors call for a general framework for future accession treaties, along with a catalogue of options that can be adapted to the specific circumstances of each candidate country. They propose a standard model for future accession agreements that could be tailored to address the particular challenges posed by individual applicants.
Stronger Safeguard Clauses
The five EU member states advocate strengthening and extending safeguard clauses that would apply to matters related to the EU’s internal security, economic security and resilience against foreign interference.
According to the document, the rule of law should be the most important area covered by such safeguards. The proposal includes an “anti-backsliding clause” designed to prevent future members from retreating from European values and rule-of-law standards after accession.
Violations could automatically trigger financial penalties, infringement procedures or other protective mechanisms.
EU institutions would also be empowered to respond to serious violations of the rule of law, democratic principles and media freedom.
Possible measures could include the suspension of certain forms of cooperation with a member state found to be in breach of these standards.
The document further argues that participation in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office should become a political precondition for accession, viewing it as an important tool for protecting the rule of law and preventing the misuse of EU funds.
Preventing Future Blockades
The proposal also calls for the inclusion of a special clause reminding new members of their obligation to cooperate loyally with the European Union.
“Conduct that undermines unity, mutual trust and the EU decision-making process causes serious damage to the entire European bloc,” the document states.
For that reason, the authors argue that future accession treaties should contain mechanisms allowing the EU to respond to such behavior and prevent potential blockades or a lack of cooperation by new member states.
