The European Union fears the accession of "Trojan horses"

ZOOM

The European Union is considering placing its future members on probation, with the possibility of temporary exclusion in the event of anti-democratic drift. This idea, put forward by Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, follows concerns that new member states could follow the path of Hungary, which has stood out for its reluctance to impose sanctions on Russia and its authoritarian shift, despite budgetary pressure from Brussels.

Driven by the urgency created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Commission is reviving the long-stalled enlargement process with the aim of integrating the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova. However, many member states are privately expressing caution about the integration of these countries, fearing that they may deviate from democratic standards and judicial independence, or even move closer to Moscow once they become members.

Among the measures being considered are stronger safeguard mechanisms and internal sanctions, as well as stricter rules to prevent democratic backsliding. Future accession treaties would impose an irreversible commitment to respect the rule of law, monitored from the negotiation phase and potentially accompanied by sanctions in the event of non-compliance.

Brussels wants to gradually integrate candidate countries into certain European programs before their full accession. While Hungary is currently blocking the opening of accession chapters with Ukraine, the possibility of separating the applications of Ukraine and Moldova is being discussed in order to accelerate reforms in each country. Marta Kos insists on the need for profound transformations before any accession and warns against slowing down the process: “We have managed to stop Russia at the door, but if momentum is lost, it could find another way in.” The Financial Times

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