European reform targets abolishing the veto in enlargement decisions and admitting new members - Sarmad

Bloomberg reported that the European Commission will present in September a reform of the EU’s enlargement policy, which includes abolishing the veto power of member states in decisions on admitting new countries.

According to the reform draft, the amendments will not be limited to the voting mechanism alone, but will also include a review of the criteria and requirements imposed on candidate countries.

In this context, Bloomberg noted that the pace of EU enlargement has slowed significantly in recent years due to internal disagreements among member states, with some countries using their veto as leverage to delay or block the accession of new members, particularly from the Western Balkans.

This initiative is likely to spark controversy among countries fearing a loss of influence. Adopting the reform requires the approval of all 27 EU member states.

The new mechanism aims to prevent the blocking and blackmail tactics previously employed by some member states using their veto power to pressure candidates or other EU members.

The draft is scheduled to be presented to EU countries and debated in the European Parliament at the end of September.

In 2025, Western Balkan countries, along with Ukraine and Moldova, were granted candidate status, but the negotiation process has been protracted. Hungary and other countries have repeatedly obstructed certain stages of this process.

Previously, the EU decided to begin negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, but the process stalled due to demands for reforms and political disagreements within the Union.