European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to present a revised European Union enlargement policy on September 30, outlining a possible new framework for candidate countries seeking to join the bloc.
According to some media reports, the document, titled “Pre-enlargement Reforms and Policy Reviews,” is intended to provide guidelines for the EU’s future enlargement process but would not itself be legally binding on member states.
The policy has reportedly been under discussion for more than two years. Earlier proposals included changes to accession treaties, the EU budget and decision-making procedures, as well as mechanisms designed to prevent backsliding on fundamental European principles after a country becomes a member.
One of the central ideas reportedly under consideration is gradual integration, which would allow candidate countries to participate in certain EU programs and policy areas before full membership.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos previously indicated that the new approach would focus on accession treaties, the budget and decision-making, while seeking areas where broad agreement among member states could be reached.
According to the reports, the revised accession framework could include stronger safeguards to address potential rule-of-law deterioration in future member states. Such safeguards could include transitional provisions allowing certain rights to be suspended if fundamental EU principles are seriously undermined after accession.
Debate Over Voting Rights
Some EU member states have reportedly proposed that future members could initially join without full voting or veto rights. However, the European Commission has rejected the idea of introducing additional accession criteria that would apply exclusively to new members.
Existing transitional mechanisms contained in accession treaties would remain available, while additional provisions could potentially be negotiated for specific areas during transitional periods.
Another issue under discussion is the use of qualified majority voting in certain areas currently requiring unanimity. The exact areas in which such a change could apply have yet to be determined.
Reports also suggest that the number of decisions involved in intermediate stages of the accession process could potentially be reduced, although the precise figure remains subject to negotiations.
Push for Gradual Integration
The revised approach is reportedly being shaped partly by disagreements among EU member states over the scale and pace of enlargement.
Rather than pursuing a comprehensive overhaul of the enlargement system immediately, the European Commission is expected to place greater emphasis on gradual integration, allowing candidate countries to gain access to selected EU policies and programs before becoming full members.
Von der Leyen referred to the planned approach as a “roadmap” for candidate countries during her recent State of the Union address.
Once the Commission formally presents the framework, it is expected to be considered by the European Parliament. According to the reports, the Parliament could consider the proposal under an accelerated procedure ahead of an EU Council meeting in October, where member states are expected to discuss the final version of the revised approach.
For the Western Balkans, any changes to the EU enlargement framework could affect how candidate and aspiring candidate countries progress toward membership, although the details of the proposed system and its final form remain subject to decisions by EU institutions and member states.
