European Commission Prepares EU Enlargement Reform Proposals

The European Commission is preparing proposals to reform the EU enlargement process, three EU officials told Euronews. The effort follows recent position papers from member states that have shaped the debate without direct Commission input. Under current rules, all 27 member states must unanimously approve the opening and closing of each of the 35 policy chapters in accession talks.

A single country can therefore block progress at any stage.

France have suggested gradual integration steps that would let candidate countries gain some benefits before full membership. Five of the six founding members have proposed stronger safeguards against democratic backsliding and rule-of-law breaches.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier floated an "associate membership" status. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opposed the idea, stating that Ukraine seeks full membership rather than partial status.

Costa has visited the 27 capitals ahead of the October EU leaders' meeting. A Commission spokesperson said the body is working on its own proposals and looks forward to the strategic discussion on enlargement and reforms at that summit. Vsevolod Chentsov, Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union, said on Euronews that talks should focus on substance rather than titles and that Ukraine should already feel benefits from the process.