The European Commission is preparing proposals to reform the EU enlargement process in an effort to reassert its role in a debate that has increasingly been shaped by member states, three EU officials told Euronews.
EU enlargement has climbed to the top of the agenda, as Montenegro is approaching the finishing line to join the bloc. In recent weeks, member states have advanced a flurry of position papers floating ideas on how to reform the accession process.
Five of the six EU founding members have proposed strengthening existing safeguards to prevent democratic backsliding and breaches of the rule of law — lessons drawn from Viktor Orbán's Hungary.
Germany and France have floated ideas for the gradual integration of candidate countries, allowing newcomers to see the early benefits of EU accession before reaching full membership.
Previously, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed creating an "associate membership" status to extend security guarantees to Ukraine.
