European commissioner outlines three key areas for EU enlargement preparations

The European Union must focus on three points as it prepares to accept new members: strengthening safeguards against backsliding on democratic norms, enabling more flexible decision-making, and expanding gradual integration for candidate states prior to full accession.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos mentioned before a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Luxembourg that the European Commission has presented its pre-enlargement policy review outlining the internal reforms the EU must undergo to be ready for future accessions.

"Three points are important to me. The first is to make sure that when new members join us, they will follow the rules," Kos said.

Kos clarified that this refers to safeguards designed to protect democratic values and prohibit "backsliding".

"The next point is that we need a more flexible decision-making process. In these geopolitical, sometimes crazy times, we need to be more agile. That is why we suggest some steps how to use more QMV [qualified majority voting]," she added.

The third point is introducing enhanced gradual integration – "more Europe before membership".

"If a country will succeed to adopt everything necessary to be part of the sub-system or system of the European Union, we could get them on board even earlier [before formal accession – ed.]," she added.

On 6 October, the European Commission's College of Commissioners adopted a package of proposals on pre-enlargement policy reviews which will enable the EU to admit new members, including Ukraine.

At the time, Marta Kos outlined five specific steps proposed by the Commission for future EU members.