OMM Redaksiyası
The European Union is preparing to offer candidate countries gradual access to its single market and research programmes before they become full members, according to a draft European Commission proposal obtained by Politico.
The proposal envisages the “gradual integration” of candidate countries through closer trade ties and participation in research, innovation and industrial programmes, Politico reported on Wednesday.
Conditions for early integration
“The single market is the first priority for economic convergence,” the draft review says, arguing that earlier integration could strengthen European value chains and reduce strategic dependencies.
Under the proposed framework, candidate countries would gain deeper access in areas where they demonstrate regulatory alignment and sufficient enforcement capacity. The focus would be on sectors supporting preparations for EU accession and serving shared economic and strategic interests.
The countries would also be expected to align more closely with the EU’s foreign and security policies. Their access could be restricted or withdrawn if they fail to meet conditions, including democratic reforms and alignment with the bloc’s strategic interests.
Possible changes to EU decision-making
The European Commission is also considering broader use of qualified majority voting in areas that currently require unanimity.
The draft warns that the risk of delays or blockages could grow as the EU expands its membership. It refers to “passerelle clauses”, which can allow certain decisions to move from unanimity to majority voting without formally amending the EU treaties.
Such mechanisms could potentially apply to areas including sanctions, responses to human rights crises and the deployment of civilian missions. However, activating the clauses would itself require unanimous approval by EU member states.
EU leaders are due to discuss enlargement and the bloc’s future institutional arrangements at a summit in Brussels on October 15-16.
