EU eyes ‘safeguards’ to keep bloc workable if it gets bigger

In a bid to keep the European Union functional as it potentially expands, the EU Commission has proposed new safeguards to limit the impact on the budget and manage larger administration. Commission spokesperson Marta Kos stated that while enlargement remains a strategic priority, there are significant concerns about the strain a new member, particularly war-torn Ukraine, could place on the EU's financial resources.

The proposal includes limiting Ukraine's access to farm subsidies and imposing export restrictions on certain products to prevent a flood of cheap agricultural goods. Brussels is also seeking to learn from Hungary's past blockages and introduce new safeguards against newcomers potentially blocking the EU's functioning or undermining the rule of law.

The current member states are contemplating shifting from requiring unanimous approval to a majority vote in key areas like foreign policy to prevent disruptive vetoes. The EU leaders will discuss these proposals at an upcoming summit, with the goal of providing a clear signal that enlargement is still an option for the bloc. All these changes would initially apply to the four front-runners for membership – Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, and Moldova – but the EU hopes that the framework will be broadly applicable to any future enlargements.