Polytico “uncovers” EU plans to provide economic assistance to candidate countries, but the path to membership only by merit

Under the proposal, candidate countries will be able to gradually gain access to EU funding programmes, preferential trade agreements, and in part on the common European market, depending on the progress they achieve in implementing reforms and approaching EU legislation.

Unlike previous proposals, which envisioned granting some political rights before membership and were rejected by member states, the new model focuses solely on economic benefits, without giving countries full political status within the union.

The initiative has won greater political support, especially from France and Germany, which view gradual integration as a way to keep candidate countries engaged in the reform process, even when full membership may remain several years away.

The European Commission aims to ensure the government of member states' support for this framework at European Council meetings, expected to take place in October or December. The benefits will be given occasionally, given the progress of each candidate country.

The plan comes at a time when the European Union is seeking to accelerate enlargement, especially after Russian aggression against Ukraine, but without compromising membership criteria. One of the main objectives is to keep countries like Ukraine and Moldova engaged in the process, providing concrete benefits along the road to membership.

Currently, the European Union has nine candidate countries. Montenegro is considered closer to membership, while Ukraine and Moldova have opened negotiations. On the other hand, the process of Serbia, Turkey and Georgia has remained slow.

The European Commission is also working on new safeguard mechanisms that would allow intervention if future member states were to withdraw from democratic standards or rule of law after membership, with the aim of maintaining the integrity of the enlargement process.

Since the Commission's earlier proposals for the opposite “x1> have failed to gain support from EU countries, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said it is now up to governments to decide how to advance the debate.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is among the leaders who are pushing forward alternative approaches and intended to raise the issue at last week's European Council summit.

A diplomat involved in the talks said officials were trying to compensate for a lost “decade of enlargement reform, while overcoming resistance from governments determined to ensure candidate countries complete meaningful reforms before joining.

Kos told Polytico-as early this month that the Commission is also developing new safeguard clauses that will “migrate” if future member states are attracted by democracy or rule of law after membership, another effort to ensure governments that the bloc can accelerate enlargement without weakening its standards. / TCh/