EU Commission Proposes 15-Year Safeguards for Future Member States

The proposal, unveiled Tuesday, targets frontrunners including Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, and Montenegro. By extending existing protections beyond the current three-year limit, the commission seeks to address systemic issues that have historically hampered Article 7 proceedings. Under the new framework, violations of treaty obligations could trigger the suspension of council voting rights, a mechanism designed to be more agile than current procedures.

Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos defended the policy, characterizing it as a necessary defense rather than a discriminatory tool. However, the plan faces skepticism from analysts like Agon Maliqi, who warn that prolonged safeguards effectively lock new entrants into an unequal relationship. The commission also signaled a shift toward qualified majority voting for accession negotiations and broader use of enhanced cooperation, aiming to prevent individual member states from blocking progress through bilateral disputes.