EU Floats Safeguards Against Backsliding by New Members

· Politics · European Union

The European Commission put forward ideas to ease the EU expansion process and allay concerns among existing members, including possible safeguards against democratic backsliding by new members. Under one proposal, EU countries could suspend a new member's voting rights during the first 15 years of membership. Several countries, not least war-torn Ukraine, are among the candidates. The proposals aim to make enlargement more palatable to current members wary of importing instability or diluting the bloc's decision-making.

Why it matters：How the EU manages enlargement and democratic safeguards will shape its ability to absorb new members and maintain unity amid war on its doorstep.

Key points

  • The Commission floated easing enlargement and addressing existing members' concerns.
  • One idea would let EU countries suspend a new member's voting rights in its first 15 years.
  • Candidates include war-torn Ukraine.

Sources (original reporting)

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