The European Commission is considering a plan under which future member states would not have veto power over EU decisions for several years. The Guardian reported this on May 26, citing its sources.
This idea, as the publication notes, arose after a “painful” experience with Hungary, whose previous pro-Russian government led by Viktor Orban vetoed several important EU decisions, in particular a €90 billion loan to Ukraine.
The new rules will primarily affect Montenegro, which aims to become the 28th EU member state by 2028. According to The Guardian, countries could add a veto ban to their accession treaty, which would become a “template” for other countries seeking membership.
This measure is one of several precautionary measures that are being discussed in the European Commission to facilitate the process of accession of new states to the EU, the media notes.
As the newspaper explains, in some countries there is growing skepticism regarding the expansion of the European Union. In particular, in France, where presidential elections will take place next year.
One diplomat told the media that discussions were ongoing on how to ensure that larger enlargement would benefit both the candidate countries and the EU itself.
Among the candidate countries, Ukraine is considered a “special case” due to its size, war with Russia and huge reconstruction costs, writes The Guardian. EU officials believe Ukraine will technically complete the accession process in four years, but view the accession date as a political issue linked to a peace settlement.
