Kos Outlines Proposals to Revamp the EU Enlargement Process

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has presented four areas for discussion on changes to the EU enlargement process: internal reforms of the bloc, stronger democratic safeguards, gradual integration and transitional measures. According to Kos, the EU is currently experiencing a new “Helsinki moment”, referring to the meeting of European leaders in the Finnish capital that paved the way for the bloc’s major post-Cold War enlargement, when 10 countries joined the EU, eurointegration.com.ua reports. “The world has changed. And enlargement must change with it… The Commission will present its ideas on how the European Union should prepare as candidate countries approach the final stages of accession negotiations,” the European Commissioner said. According to Kos, member states must reach agreement on four key issues in order to build consensus on admitting new countries to the EU. First, she argued that an enlarged European Union would require significant reforms to maintain its ability to act and adapt quickly in times of crisis. She said that changes to decision-making procedures and institutional arrangements could be introduced without amending the EU treaties, which would otherwise require lengthy negotiations and an unpredictable ratification process among member states. “We must use this opportunity to make decision-making more flexible and effective. This could also mean reducing the number of areas in which a single member state can block everyone else,” Kos said. She also pointed to enhanced cooperation, a legal mechanism that allows a smaller group of EU countries to advance a specific initiative when other member states are not ready to participate. Another element highlighted by the European Commissioner is strengthening existing safeguards to prevent new members from backsliding on democratic standards and the rule of law. The idea was put forward by five of the EU’s founding members as a lesson from Hungary under Viktor Orban. “We must make sure we do not allow ‘Trojan horses’. Not today, nor in 10 or 20 years. Recent experience has shown that stricter safeguards may be needed to prevent and, where necessary, correct violations of the fundamental principles and values of our Union,” Kos said. In addition, several EU countries, particularly France and Germany, have proposed revising the bloc’s enlargement methodology, including through “gradual integration”, which would give candidate countries tangible benefits at an earlier stage of the accession process. “We must move away from the ‘all or nothing’ logic of enlargement. We need a more structured approach to overcome the lack of time, because we no longer have enough of it. We need to explore more ambitious paths toward gradual integration,” the European Commissioner explained. The urgency of reconsidering the bloc’s enlargement methodology is largely driven by the launch of Ukraine’s accession process, as EU capitals are concerned that some form of membership and security guarantees could become part of a potential peace agreement with Russia. In conclusion, the European Commissioner for Enlargement said Brussels must remain aware of the impact new members would have on existing EU countries and protect the bloc’s interests against potential risks.