The European Commission on Tuesday presented a package of pre-enlargement policy reviews setting out measures to prepare the European Union’s governance, policies and budget for future enlargements.
The Commission said the EU could accommodate additional Member States within the existing Treaty framework and future accession treaties. It also proposed giving candidate countries earlier access to selected EU policies and funding, provided they meet the required conditions.
The package includes safeguards for future accession treaties, including stronger sectoral safeguards and a new institutional safeguard clause, aimed at ensuring that commitments made during accession negotiations continue to be respected after membership.
The Commission also proposed making the gradual integration of candidate countries more structured and predictable. Candidates could participate earlier in selected EU policies where conditions are met, with participation remaining merit-based, conditional and reversible.
On the EU budget, the Commission said a larger Union could be accommodated while continuing to finance existing priorities. Under the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034, candidate countries would receive funding under Global Europe before accession. After joining the EU, funding would shift to the new Member State’s National and Regional Partnership Plans, with additional resources for cohesion, agriculture, home affairs and Interreg.
For Ukraine, given the scale, structure and very high productivity of its agricultural sector, the Commission said targeted arrangements should significantly limit financial support and market access for sensitive agricultural products, while helping the country regain access to its traditional third-country export markets.
The Commission also renewed its call for wider use of qualified majority voting instead of unanimity in some areas. It will continue to advocate the use of so-called passerelle clauses to move to qualified majority voting in areas including sanctions, tax fraud and fiscal measures in energy policy. Using such clauses would itself require agreement under the procedures laid down in the Treaties.
In the enlargement process, the Commission suggested using qualified majority voting for opening negotiating clusters and other intermediary decisions in accession negotiations, which it said would make the process more dynamic.
The Commission will also examine where enhanced cooperation, under which a group of Member States can move ahead in a particular area, could help overcome persistent blockages.
It further proposed discussing with the European Parliament and the Council how to make Article 7 procedures more effective, including through possible timeframes. Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union provides mechanisms for responding to serious breaches of EU values and can ultimately lead to the suspension of certain membership rights, including Council voting rights.
The annual Enlargement and Rule of Law Reports will remain the main monitoring tools, with the Rule of Law Report gradually extended to other candidate countries as they become ready.
The Commission said it would also support the gradual integration of candidate countries by identifying opportunities for closer participation in strategic sectors such as energy, transport, digital technologies and defence.
Future accession treaties should include stronger safeguards against serious backsliding on commitments undertaken during accession negotiations, the Commission said. The period during which safeguards could be activated in areas such as the economy, the internal market, and justice and home affairs would be significantly extended after accession.
A new institutional safeguard would address serious breaches of EU values and the principle of sincere cooperation. In the most serious cases, measures could include suspending a Member State’s voting rights in the Council.
Transitional arrangements could also be used where necessary, including for the free movement of workers and services, agriculture, sensitive products, funding and participation in common systems. For a limited period, a new Member State could also commit not to block future enlargements because of bilateral disputes.
As part of the 2026 Enlargement Package, the Commission will present indicative accession roadmaps for Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine, provided they maintain the momentum of reforms. It will also set out a coherent approach to gradual integration, including the identification of strategic areas.
The proposals will feed into discussions among EU Member States on enlargement and reforms, including at the European Council later in October, and into talks with the European Parliament and the Council on the institutional and operational adjustments needed for future accessions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said enlargement was a “geopolitical imperative” and that the EU needed to prepare its institutions, policies and budget so that a larger Union would also be stronger, more resilient and more effective.
European Commission Sets Out Proposals to Prepare EU for Future Enlargement 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-06 15:32:24
EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement Could Add EUR 4 Bln to EU’s GDP by 2030, Ambassador Says 2026
World news, international news, global news, latest world news, breaking world news, world politics, international politics. Global economy, international business, world markets, global events, international relations, geopolitical news, global affairs. Europe news, European news, EU news, European politics, Balkan news, United States news, UK news, Asia news. Bulgarians abroad, Bulgarian diaspora, Bulgarians overseas, Bulgarian communities abroad, Bulgarian citizens abroad, Bulgarian expats, Bulgarian emigrants. Bulgarian diaspora news, news for Bulgarians abroad, Bulgaria abroad, Bulgarians in Europe, Bulgarians in Germany, Bulgarians in the UK. Bulgarians in Spain, Bulgarians in Italy, Bulgarians in France, Bulgarians in the USA, Bulgarians in Canada, Bulgarians in Greece. Bulgarian communities worldwide, Bulgarian schools abroad, Bulgarian culture abroad, Bulgarian businesses abroad, Bulgarian students abroad, Bulgarian workers abroad. Consular services Bulgaria, Bulgarian embassies, Bulgarian citizens overseas, Bulgarian elections abroad, Bulgarian voting abroad, Bulgarian nationals abroad, Bulgaria international relations.
BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-10-06 15:32:24
PM Radev: 2027 State Budget to Include Higher Salaries for Young Doctors 2026
