Countries joining the European Union could face stricter scrutiny of democracy and the rule of law for up to 15 years after accession. The bloc is considering new safeguards aimed at preventing democratic backsliding after new states are admitted.
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The Western Balkans is expected to feel the impact of these measures most directly. Montenegro, which aims to join the EU in 2028, could become the first country subject to the new rules. If it joins within that timeframe, enhanced scrutiny could extend until 2043.
The EU is also focusing on Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia, particularly regarding judicial reforms, anti-corruption efforts and media independence.
The European Commission first presented the proposal on October 6, aiming to prevent democratic backsliding among future members after they join the Union. The initiative comes against the backdrop of experiences with Hungary and Poland, where political interference in the judiciary, control over the media and the weakening of democratic institutions have led to repeated clashes with Brussels.
Hungary, led by Viktor Orbán, has also highlighted how a member state can use its veto to block joint EU decisions. This has also been seen on issues involving Russia and aid to Ukraine.
The key change envisaged would allow measures against states that backslide on the rule of law to be approved by a qualified majority during their first 15 years of membership. These decisions would not require unanimity.
This would make it easier to suspend EU funding and, in certain cases, restrict rights stemming from membership. The aim is to overcome the obstacles that have hampered the application of Article 7 of the EU Treaty.
According to experts, however, the proposed solution does not address the problem in its entirety. Democratic backsliding could re-emerge in a country even after the 15-year period has ended, while existing procedures would remain in force for current EU members.
The strategy is not aimed solely at candidate countries; it also seeks to strengthen public confidence in enlargement among citizens of member states. By offering additional guarantees and making funding conditional on compliance with democratic standards, the European Commission hopes to make it easier to ratify future accession treaties.
