EU Commission Weighs Safeguards for New Members Ahead of Expansion

The European Commission is preparing a set of safeguards to shield the European Union from any attempts by future members to erode democratic structures or block decisions, according to a draft document.

The proposals come as Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova move forward with their bids to join the bloc, prompting Brussels to assess what a larger membership would mean and whether the EU's rules need adjusting.

"Enlargement strengthens Europe," the Commission wrote in the draft, while noting that a bigger union would place heavier demands on decision-making, administration, enforcement, infrastructure and financing. The document could still be revised and forms part of a package the Commission is expected to unveil next week.

EU governments have made clear they want to limit the risks posed by any democratic regression or foreign policy shifts among new members, a concern sharpened by the bloc's experience with Hungary under Viktor Orban, who was voted out in April after 16 years in power. Some capitals are also keen to protect businesses and citizens in existing member states from sudden disruptions caused by enlargement.

Among the tools under consideration is a "temporary political commitment" under which a new member would declare that, for a limited period, it would not oppose decisions taken by consensus.

The Commission is also weighing a safeguard clause that would allow existing member states, for a period after accession, to suspend a new member's rights, including voting rights, by a qualified majority of 15 of the 27 members representing 65% of the bloc's population.

Future accession treaties could carry time-limited safeguards in areas such as the free movement of workers and agriculture, the document said.

The Commission repeated its call for member states to streamline EU decision-making by permitting qualified-majority votes on issues such as sanctions, an area where Hungary frequently used its veto. It added that greater use of qualified-majority voting should be paired with suitable protections for essential national interests.

The draft also advocates a more systematic approach to integrating future members into EU programmes before they formally join, particularly in defence, energy and transport.