EU to offer single-market access to candidate countries

This initiative, overseen by top von der Leyen advisor Alexandre Adam, aims to overhaul the EU's approach to enlargement, which has seen few new members join since Croatia in 2013. Countries like Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, and Montenegro are slated to receive 'road maps' to expedite their path to membership. However, the benefits are conditional and can be revoked if countries backslide on democratic principles or share critical technologies with adversarial governments. The proposal emphasizes that participation in sensitive sectors, such as semiconductors, AI, and quantum technologies, must be accompanied by cooperation on investment screening, export controls, and sanctions implementation.

Concerns among current EU members about new states potentially undermining bloc policies, as seen with Hungary's past use of veto power, are being addressed. The review will propose new conditions to ensure adherence to democracy and the rule of law, with a continuous framework for monitoring, incentives, and enforcement extending beyond accession. The EU itself may also adapt to accommodate a larger membership, potentially by increasing the use of qualified-majority voting in certain areas to avoid delays and blockages.

Leaders will discuss these proposals at an upcoming summit in Brussels, with the aim of fostering an 'autumn of enlargement' characterized by significant changes in the bloc's expansion strategy.