Key facts
- New EU member states could face a 15-year probation period.
- During probation, new members could lose voting rights or EU funds.
- The safeguards aim to protect the bloc from leaders who flout democratic values.
- The proposals would require agreement from all EU member states.
- The threshold for suspending voting rights would be lower than under Article 7.
- Ukraine and Moldova are identified as frontrunners for EU accession.
The European Commission is proposing a significant overhaul of its enlargement process, introducing a 15-year probation period for new member states to ensure adherence to democratic values and the rule of law. The plan, detailed by Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, aims to prevent future members from holding the bloc hostage with "rule of law" breaches, a situation exemplified by the former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Under the proposed safeguards, new member states could face the suspension of voting rights or EU funds if they violate fundamental democratic principles or the principle of sincere cooperation. This initiative seeks to establish quicker and more effective mechanisms than the existing Article 7, which has proven difficult to implement. The proposals, which require unanimous agreement from current EU member states, would lower the threshold for imposing sanctions compared to the current treaty.
The push for stricter accession criteria comes as the EU experiences renewed momentum in its enlargement efforts, with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro, and Albania identified as leading candidates. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 has revitalized the EU's expansion agenda, particularly in the western Balkans, where Russia and China are actively seeking to increase their influence.
Despite potential skepticism from some member states and voters, Kos expressed confidence in the political feasibility of enlargement, emphasizing its strategic importance in countering external disruptive forces like Russia and China. The EU hopes to open negotiation clusters with Ukraine and Moldova soon, though Kos acknowledged that accession for countries in active conflict remains a complex issue. Discussions will also address potential waivers of veto rights on issues like taxation and sanctions to avoid gridlock in a larger EU.