Kos unveils EU enlargement reform: North Macedonia faces gradual integration and stricter criteria

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has presented the Union’s new enlargement reform, set out in the document “Preparing for a Wider Europe.” The initiative brings significant changes to how decisions are made on negotiations and the admission of new members.

Among the proposals with a particular impact on North Macedonia is the removal of vetoes during negotiations and a move away from the EU’s practice of making decisions by consensus. However, the veto will remain at the final stage: admitting a new country will continue to require the unanimous approval of member states.

On behalf of the European Commission, Kos asked the European Council to consider using qualified majority voting to open negotiating clusters and for other intermediate stages of the accession process. She stressed that each current member will retain its veto over the final decision.

The reform also provides for gradual integration, through which candidate countries would progressively gain access to the benefits of membership. Initially, this would apply to the single market and would later extend to other areas of Union policy.

According to Kos, this approach would not replace membership. Progress will depend on two main conditions: implementing reforms and aligning with the EU’s strategic goals and policies, the latter being a new criterion.

The commissioner said the process could move forward but also be reversed. More safeguards will be provided for candidate countries that backslide on the rule of law, respect for human rights, or commit serious violations of Article 4 of the EU Treaty. This article requires mutual respect for territorial integrity, national sovereignty and identity, as well as the EU’s “non-aggression pact.”/Telegrafi/