European Commission approves package to prepare EU for enlargement — European Commission Press
In Strasbourg, the European Commission approved a policy review package to prepare the European Union for future enlargement. It covers EU governance, policies and budget, and also provides for strengthening the protection of the Union’s values and the rule of law, European Commission Press reports.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that EU enlargement is a geopolitical necessity. According to her, the Union must prepare its institutions, adapt its policies to new conditions and ensure that the budget matches shared ambitions.
Governance and budget
The Commission believes that the EU can admit new members within the framework of the current treaty basis and future accession treaties. Before accession, it is necessary to strengthen administrative capacity, regulatory and supervisory capabilities, system compatibility and interaction between administrations, both in the EU and in candidate countries.
Under the proposed next EU multiannual financial framework for 2028–2034, candidate countries are proposed to be financed under the Global Europe programme before accession. After accession, funding would be transferred to the national and regional partnership plans of new member states, with additional support in the areas of cohesion, agriculture, home affairs and Interreg.
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For Ukraine, the Commission proposes targeted mechanisms that are intended to substantially limit financial support and market access for sensitive agricultural goods. At the same time, they are intended to help Ukraine restore access to traditional export markets in third countries.
Gradual integration and safeguards
The Commission will continue to advocate for the use of treaty provisions that make it possible to move from unanimity to qualified majority voting. This concerns, in particular, sanctions, tax fraud and fiscal measures in energy policy. In the area of enlargement, it proposes using a qualified majority to open negotiating clusters and for other interim decisions.
Candidate countries will be able to join certain EU policies earlier, including in energy, transport, digital affairs and defence, if they meet the specified conditions. Such participation will remain merit-based, conditional and reversible.
Future accession treaties may contain strengthened sectoral and new institutional safeguards in the event of serious backsliding on commitments. In the most serious cases, a possible measure could be the suspension of a new member state’s voting rights in the Council of the EU. As part of the 2026 enlargement package, the Commission plans to submit indicative roadmaps for Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine, provided they maintain the pace of reforms.
