Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg are proposing that the European Union examine the possibility of temporarily limiting certain voting rights of new member states, while strengthening rule-of-law safeguards. This initiative was outlined in a joint document consulted on Tuesday and is part of a broader debate on the bloc's enlargement.
According to this document, the five countries believe that additional mechanisms may be necessary to better manage the integration of future members and ensure respect for the fundamental principles of the European Union. The aim would be to strengthen the political cohesion of the bloc while avoiding potential institutional tensions during future accessions.
This reflection comes as several candidate countries accelerate their accession process. Montenegro hopes to join the European Union by 2028, while Albania, Ukraine, and Moldova continue their efforts to make progress in their negotiations with Brussels.
Discussions between Member States focus in particular on how to adapt current rules to a potential enlargement of the bloc, in a geopolitical context marked by increased tensions at the Union's borders and a perceived need to strengthen internal stability.
The proposals include the possibility of introducing a transitional period during which certain political rights of the new members could be limited, in order to ensure their full alignment with European standards, particularly in matters of the rule of law.
These debates illustrate the persistent divergences within the European Union on how to reconcile enlargement and deepening of integration, as several capitals wish both to accelerate opening to new members and to preserve the efficiency of the bloc's institutional functioning.
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