EU to offer single-market access to candidate countries
Economic benefits would be conditional and can be taken away if non-members backslide on democracy or share sensitive tech with unfriendly governments, the plan says.
The European Union plans to offer its single-market benefits to candidate countries, including Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and Montenegro, according to a draft European Commission proposal. The proposal, overseen by a top advisor to EU Commission President Von der Leyen, would allow for "gradual integration" into the single market, providing economic advantages while the countries work towards full membership.
This approach aims to strengthen European value chains and reduce strategic dependencies. Countries like North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Turkey are expected to face longer wait times for full integration due to delays in the application process, raising concerns about potential disengagement or alignment with hostile states.
The Commission's plan would offer access to sensitive sectors, such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, contingent on the countries' support for EU foreign policy objectives and their commitment to not sharing key technologies with hostile states or rivals.
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