Brussels wants to open up the single market to EU candidate countries, at certain conditions

Countries applying for membership may no longer have to wait until they join the European Union to benefit from its economy. According to a European Commission draft seen by Politico, they would be offered “gradual integration” into the single market, with frictionless trade and access to research programmes, whilst their accession process is ongoing. Led by Alexandre Adam, an adviser to Ursula von der Leyen and a former aide to Emmanuel Macron, this proposal would overturn the current approach, which reserves almost all economic benefits for members alone, even though no new state has joined the Union since Croatia in 2013.

These benefits would, however, be conditional. The countries concerned would have to support the Union’s foreign policy objectives and refrain from sharing key technologies with hostile states or commercial rivals; the text cites semiconductors, quantum technologies, biotechnologies, artificial intelligence and space technology. Investment and export controls, as well as the enforcement of sanctions, would also be taken into account, and access could be suspended or even withdrawn in the event of non-compliance.

The plan also provides for ‘roadmaps’ to accelerate the accession of Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and Montenegro. For other candidate countries, such as North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Turkey, the process is dragging on, raising fears that they may lose interest in the EU or draw closer to Russia or China. Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Albania today, the first stop on a tour that will take her to Kosovo and North Macedonia. The Kosovar Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, supports gradual integration, but warns that it must lead to full membership, not serve as a substitute for it.

Member states fear that new members might renege on their commitments, as Hungary did under Viktor Orbán by blocking sanctions against Russia. The Commission is therefore proposing a monitoring mechanism that would continue after accession, to prevent setbacks in democracy and the rule of law. It is also considering extending qualified majority voting, via bridge clauses, to sanctions, human rights crises or civilian missions, without reopening the Treaties.

The document is due to be presented on 6 October, ahead of a European summit in Brussels starting on 15 October. The Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, sees this as an opportunity for an “autumn of enlargement”. Politico

🇬🇧 United Kingdom • British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has raised the issue of the country’s return to the European Union – a first for a British head of government since Brexit. Emmanuel Macron responded with a “Welcome back!”, whilst the Reform UK party denounced the move as a “betrayal”. These options are to be presented at a bilateral summit scheduled to take place by the end of the year. At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, the Prime Minister called for the state to reclaim a role in essential services, with legislation to nationalise water services, a public body to manage the electricity grid, and a major social housing programme. He also promised a reform of the social security and pensions systems.

🇪🇺 European Union • Meeting in Dublin, European energy ministers were warned of a difficult winter, with gas and fuel prices likely to be “very high” following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Diesel has reached an average of 2.23 euros per litre, compared with 1.59 euros at the end of February. Commissioner Dan Jorgensen has proposed postponing the law on methane emissions from hydrocarbon imports until 2028, a delay supported by Emmanuel Macron.

🇵🇱 Poland - 🇷🇺 Russia - 🇺🇦 Ukraine • Overnight, Russia launched nearly 190 drones and missiles against Ukraine’s energy grid, killing seven people, including a child, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. Kyiv and the surrounding region were the main targets; the Trypillia thermal power station was damaged and power cuts were introduced in the capital. According to Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky, a combined attack on this scale had not occurred since the end of last winter, and it marks the start of a new campaign against the energy sector. Moscow claims to have targeted facilities supplying the military-industrial complex. In Poland, flights were briefly suspended at Lublin and Rzeszów airports whilst the air force secured the airspace.

🇷🇺 Russia • In a document sent to NATO and seen by Reuters, Moscow warns that it could resort to nuclear weapons if the Kaliningrad enclave, situated between Poland and Lithuania, were to be cut off from the rest of the country. NATO responded by reiterating its defensive nature and condemning “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric”. According to a senior European defence official, this is the first time since the Cold War that Russia has threatened the West in this way.

🇷🇴 Romania • On Wednesday, Parliament rejected the nomination of the pro-European liberal Siegfried Muresan as Prime Minister, with 182 votes, far short of the 233 required. He is the second candidate put forward by President Nicusor Dan to fail since Ilie Bolojan’s defeat in May, with a third having withdrawn before the vote. The far-right AUR, leading in the polls, is calling for early elections, but the president prefers to propose a new candidate next week.

🇱🇻 Latvia • With the general election on 3 October just days away, the Russian-speaking population in the east of the country – who make up more than a third of the population – say for the most part that they do not want to be “saved” by Russia, despite Vladimir Putin’s comments about their “trampled” rights. Some, however, criticise Riga’s policies, particularly towards “non-citizens”, who are denied the right to vote. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’ United List leads the polls.

🇪🇸 Spain – 🇫🇷 France • During a state visit to Spain, Emmanuel Macron and Pedro Sánchez presented a united front in favour of an “ambitious” European budget, funded by more own resources rather than national contributions. The French President also proposed spreading out the repayment of the joint debt incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic. The two leaders were more divided on China, whilst jointly calling for technology transfers to Europe.

🇨🇳 China – 🇪🇺 European Union • Beijing has vowed to defend its industry “unwaveringly” should the European Union adopt restrictions against Chinese companies or products. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce is targeting a document that Germany and France are reportedly finalising to ask the Commission for a tool to combat unfair trade practices, modelled on the US system. According to the Global Times, China could retaliate with anti-discrimination investigations or measures targeting supply chains.

🇲🇦 Morocco • On Tuesday, King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as head of government, a first for a woman in the country. Her party, the PAM, came top in the 23 September general election with 97 of the 395 seats, in a vote marked by a turnout of 38 per cent. As mayor of Marrakesh and a former Minister for Housing, she will have to form a coalition, as the Islamist PJD has ruled out joining the majority.

🇪🇹 Ethiopia • Fighting has resumed since 23 September in the north of the country between the federal government and the TPLF, which governs Tigray and has allied itself with six other armed groups to “overthrow” Abiy Ahmed’s government. The rebels seized the three airports in Tigray and then the town of Erebti in Afar, whilst federal forces recaptured Alamata on Monday. According to the NGO Acled, an advance towards the route linking Addis Ababa to Djibouti could be a game-changer.

🇸🇴 Somaliland - 🇹🇷 Turkey • On Monday, Turkish fighter jets fired missiles around Baidoa to support Somali federal troops against forces loyal to Abdiaziz Laftagareen, the ousted governor of the South-West State. As a major partner of Mogadishu, where it has its largest overseas military base, Turkey has found itself drawn into the country’s internal rivalries, and anti-Turkish protests broke out following a strike attributed to it in early September.

🇮🇱 Israel - 🇵🇸 Palestine • Ezzeddine al-Beik, the leader of Hamas’s armed wing in the north of the Gaza Strip, was killed on Tuesday in an Israeli strike on a residential building in Gaza City, which claimed one other victim. A second strike on the Jabalia camp left one person dead.

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia - 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates - 🇮🇱 Israel • A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted today to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia following a violent altercation in the cockpit. According to Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot stabbed the captain in an attempt to cause a crash, with the aircraft suddenly losing altitude before passengers overpowered the attacker. Defence Minister Israel Katz has described it as an attempted jihadist attack, a theory that neither the airline nor Saudi Arabia has confirmed. All 174 passengers are safe and unharmed.

🇮🇱 Israel - 🇵🇸 Palestine • More than 100 Israeli settlers attacked the village of Jalud yesterday in the north of the occupied West Bank to prevent the return of a Palestinian family escorted by the army, setting fire to buildings and vehicles and slightly injuring three police officers. Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack, a rare reaction from Israeli leaders. According to the UN, settlers were involved in an average of six incidents per day in the first half of 2026.

🇺🇸 United States – 🇮🇶 Iraq • The last troops from the US-led anti-jihadist coalition left the Erbil base today, bringing to an end more than 20 years of US military presence in Iraq, where 4,500 Americans lost their lives. France has also repatriated its last soldiers. Hailed as a victory by Iran and the militias it supports, this withdrawal is causing concern amongst the Kurds, who say they have “no means of protecting Kurdistan’s airspace”, as well as amongst several security officials, who fear a resurgence of Islamic State. The disarmament of pro-Iranian groups, initially set for 30 September, has been postponed.

🇭🇹 Haiti • On Tuesday, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force by six months, until 31 March 2027, with China, Russia and Pakistan abstaining. Only 1,500 troops are currently deployed, with a further 4,000 due to arrive in the coming months, US Ambassador Mike Waltz acknowledged. The previous day, members of the force had killed three armed men whilst on patrol in the Artibonite department.

🇺🇸 United States • Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was due to announce on Wednesday, during a speech at Quantico, Virginia, a 20 per cent reduction in the number of general and admiral posts, according to two US officials quoted by Reuters. Rather than redundancies, some posts would see their rank changed and others would be abolished, as part of the reorganisation of the Pentagon that has been underway since his arrival.

🇰🇵 North Korea - 🇰🇷 South Korea • Seoul has demanded an apology from Pyongyang following the explosion of landmines that injured three South Korean soldiers on 21 September in the demilitarised zone, one of whom lost a foot. The United Nations Command identified a North Korean anti-personnel mine on the southern side of the demarcation line and denounced it as a violation of the armistice. Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister, rejected any responsibility, describing the accusation as “despicable and sordid”.

🇲🇲 Myanmar - 🇲🇾 Malaysia • On Tuesday, Malaysia began repatriating 1,476 Myanmar nationals detained in detention centres back to Myanmar, the first phase of a “voluntary” repatriation programme set to involve 5,000 people. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has expressed concern, arguing that the civil war makes safe returns impossible. The Rohingya account for two-thirds of the 190,000 Burmese refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia.