Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg are proposing the introduction of stronger mechanisms that would enable the European Union to respond more quickly in cases where future member states violate democratic and legal standards, amid intensified debate over the bloc’s enlargement.
According to a joint document obtained by Euronews, the five countries propose strengthening accession treaties with new safeguard clauses that would allow for faster sanctions, such as the suspension of European funds or the restriction of voting rights, should breaches of the rule of law occur.
The proposal also states that new EU members should have limited veto powers during a certain transitional period, in order to prevent the blockage of key decisions within the Union, particularly in foreign policy matters where the principle of unanimity applies.
The initiative, according to diplomatic sources, has been prompted by the EU’s experience with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose policies and frequent use of vetoes have led to legal disputes and the freezing of European funds.
The document further proposes the introduction of a new principle of “non-regression,” under which countries would be obliged not to roll back democratic standards after joining the Union. Failure to comply could result in the EU imposing additional measures beyond the existing mechanisms.
It also calls for simplifying Article 7 of the EU treaties, which provides for sanctions in cases of serious breaches of the Union’s fundamental values, with the aim of enabling faster and more effective implementation.
The initiative comes at a time when the European Union is accelerating discussions on enlargement toward the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova, while considering ways to adapt the accession process to new geopolitical circumstances.
According to the proposing countries, the objective of these changes is to strengthen citizens’ confidence in the enlargement process and to ensure that future expansion does not undermine the EU’s ability to make decisions effectively.
