EU could deny new member states veto rights as bloc pushes for enlargement
The EU is weighing a temporary veto-rights delay for new members to make enlargement easier to sell. The debate is shaped by Hungary, Ukraine, and worries in France.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
The European Commission is considering a way to let new EU members join without full veto powers for a few years, aiming to reduce resistance to enlargement. The discussion is tied to Ukraine, the western Balkans, and fears that a bigger EU could become harder to govern.
The European Union is like a big club where every member can say “no” to some big decisions. Some leaders now want new members to wait before getting that power, so the club can add more people without getting stuck.
That idea matters because the club wants to grow, but some countries worry a bigger club will argue too much. It is also about places like Ukraine and the western Balkans, which want closer ties to Europe.
Think of it like a school team letting in new players, but asking them to practice for a while before they can call the plays. Supporters say that makes joining easier; critics worry it is not fair.
Analysis
What is being discussed
EU officials are weighing a temporary safeguard that would stop new member states from using veto rights on some decisions, including foreign policy and unanimity-based issues like taxation, for several years after joining. The idea is being discussed as a way to make enlargement politically easier for existing members who worry that a larger EU could become harder to run.
Why it is being considered
The proposal follows frustration over Hungary’s use of veto power under Viktor Orbán, including blocking major EU action on Ukraine. Officials are looking for a model that could be written into Montenegro’s accession treaty and then used for other candidates. The article says the safeguard is seen as legally borderline and would have to be temporary to avoid creating second-class members.
Who it affects
Montenegro is described as the frontrunner among nine official candidate countries, with a technical group now working on its accession treaty. Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz is also pressing for faster enlargement, calling it a geopolitical necessity and urging “innovative solutions” for the western Balkans. He also floated associate membership for Ukraine, which would give participation in EU meetings and institutions without voting rights. Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected that idea, saying Ukraine’s place in the EU must be full and equal.
The wider backdrop is a faster-moving enlargement agenda after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Commission said last year that new members could join by 2030, with Montenegro and Albania ahead of the pack. Officials are also watching France, where public support for enlargement is weak, and where elections in 2027 could make ratification harder. The western Balkans, and Ukraine especially, are also framed as strategic issues because Russia and China are trying to gain influence, and Ukraine’s rebuilding bill is enormous.
Key points
- The European Commission is considering delaying veto rights for new EU members for a limited time.
- The idea is meant to make enlargement easier to accept in skeptical member states.
- Montenegro is the frontrunner and is already in the final stages of accession talks.
- Germany is pushing for faster accession and other internal reforms to avoid gridlock in a larger EU.
- Ukraine rejected the idea of associate membership without full voting rights.
