The European Union aims to further integrate candidate countries even before they become full members. At the same time, Brussels is preparing changes to prevent a larger EU from becoming harder to govern due to national vetoes.
In fact, this would create a new category between the current two endpoints: full membership and candidate membership. What this new category means for the 'associated membership' for Canada, as announced by VDL, is not yet clear.
Heads of government will discuss on 15 and 16 October in Brussels how quickly new countries can join and what internal reforms will be required. Expansion and future decision-making within the EU will thus be explicitly linked.
Promotion
Internal Market
The European Commission wants to speed up the accession process but not remove existing conditions. Candidates must implement reforms and meet the set requirements. However, during the process, they should be able to benefit earlier from gradual access to parts of the internal market and European programs.
Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, and Moldova will have a special status. Separate roadmaps are being prepared for these four candidate countries. These should clarify which reforms are still needed, with indicative timelines for completing key parts of the negotiations.
Blockade
At the same time, Brussels is examining how to prevent new member states from blocking important European decisions after accession, as Hungary did for years. Consideration is being given to 'transition periods' during which new members may not immediately have full access to certain rights. Financial support could also be made conditional on compliance with agreements.
Unanimity
This discussion ties into a broader debate about veto rights within the EU. A group of at least ten current EU countries wants to move away more often from unanimous decision-making, especially on foreign policy decisions. This is intended to prevent a single government from blocking joint decisions.
Not all candidate countries will initially receive the same accelerated track. The plans currently focus on Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, and Moldova. Other countries aspiring to EU membership are not included in this group at this stage. Albania aims to complete its accession negotiations by the end of 2027.