France and Germany are advocating for a ‘structured gradual integration’ approach for EU candidate countries, aiming to enhance their integration benefits while preserving the merit-based accession framework. This initiative is set to be discussed at the upcoming EU-Western Balkans summit in Montenegro, where the two nations hope to rejuvenate the enlargement process.
The proposal seeks to simplify the current accession methodology by merging procedural steps and allowing candidate countries to progress through negotiation chapters based on recommendations from the European Commission. This shift emphasizes substantive reforms over procedural milestones, potentially reshaping how countries engage with the EU.
By introducing a tailored pre-accession strategy, the plan aims to create stronger incentives for reform, allowing countries to advance gradually towards EU membership. This could lead to earlier access to the EU single market and observer status in decision-making bodies, contingent on their reform progress.
If implemented, this gradual pathway could significantly alter the dynamics of EU enlargement, making it more accessible and responsive to the needs of candidate countries, while also reinforcing the EU’s core values and principles. The outcome of these discussions could have lasting implications for the future of the EU and its relationship with the Balkans.
Source: Euronews
