The European Union is heading toward a major debate over its decision-making system and future enlargement, with 11 member states calling for limits on the use of vetoes in foreign policy while European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has outlined a new approach that could allow candidate countries to integrate gradually into the bloc.
The proposals come as EU governments accelerate discussions over how the next enlargement should be structured, although member states remain divided over whether future members should receive the same rights as existing EU countries from the moment they join.
According to RTS, the European Commission is expected to present new proposals on September 30, with the European Council expected to discuss and potentially take concrete decisions at its October 15 meeting.
Candidates could integrate in stages
Kos has said the EU will devote the autumn to preparing candidate countries for membership while simultaneously pursuing reforms inside the Union.
Several models are currently being discussed, including associated membership, gradual integration into the EU single market and institutions, and possible restrictions on certain rights of new members.
One of the more controversial ideas involves limiting the voting rights of future members in certain areas, raising concerns that this could create a two-tier system within the EU.
“There are different concepts — associated membership, gradual integration into the common market and EU institutions, and proposals to limit the rights of new member states, including even voting rights,” RTS correspondent Dušan Gajić said.
Others argue that creating first- and second-class members would contradict the fundamental principles of European integration.
For candidate countries, the central issue is likely to be greater clarity and predictability regarding the steps required to advance toward membership.
Analyst Mijat Kostić said the emerging approach could resemble the idea of “block integration,” in which countries would acquire additional rights in specific areas as they complete reforms and deepen their integration.
EU seeks to reduce veto power
At the same time, 11 EU member states are pushing for restrictions on the ability of individual countries to block decisions in foreign policy.
The debate touches on one of the bloc’s most sensitive institutional principles: unanimity in areas where member states retain veto power.
Aleksandra Joksimović of the Center for Foreign Policy said repeated use of the veto mechanism had become increasingly problematic amid the EU’s current geopolitical and security challenges.
She argued that concerns over the potential misuse of unanimity have strengthened calls to reconsider the way decisions are made.
Kostić said the main objective would be to strengthen unity and cooperation within the bloc by reducing the ability of individual countries to use their position as leverage.
He also suggested that future members should not be able to use disputes over issues considered unrelated to the substance of a decision to block action in other areas.
Enlargement debate gains momentum
The discussion reflects a broader reassessment of EU enlargement as the bloc faces growing geopolitical pressure, particularly from Russia’s war in Ukraine and increasing competition between major powers.
For candidate countries in the Western Balkans and elsewhere, the proposals could offer a faster route toward partial integration while also imposing more demanding conditions for full membership.
The challenge for the EU will be to balance institutional reform with the principle that all member states ultimately enjoy equal rights and obligations.
With the Commission expected to unveil its proposals on September 30 and EU leaders set to consider them in October, the coming weeks could provide a clearer indication of whether the bloc is moving toward a new model of enlargement and decision-making.
