Reforming the EU enlargement policy: what does the European Commission propose? A column by Ivan Nagornyak and Maria Shlamberidze for ZN.UA.

Granting candidate countries access to the Single Market during the accession process will be beneficial both for these countries and for the Union itself. Gradual integration will allow for better inclusion in European value chains and strengthen the competitiveness of the EU economy.

European Commissioners approved proposals for reforming the EU enlargement policy. Brussels wants to prepare for expansion itself and gradually facilitate accession for current candidate countries – Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and the Western Balkans. To achieve this, the EU proposes a series of measures that would allow candidate countries to enjoy certain membership benefits even before formal accession.

The European Commission’s proposals are divided into four blocks: values, policies regarding the Single Market, financial instruments, and decision-making mechanisms.

The EU acknowledges that gradually granting candidate countries access to the Single Market during the accession process will be beneficial both for these countries and for the Union itself. The draft negotiating framework for Ukraine includes provisions for the possibility of accelerated integration into the European market if the country achieves sufficient progress in implementing reforms. Most likely, the EU will implement this policy by maximizing the potential of the Association Agreement, considering that the government currently estimates its implementation level at 88%.

The European Commission’s proposals demonstrate Brussels’ serious intentions to support the gradual integration of current candidate countries, including Ukraine. What other useful initiatives are proposed to accelerate and optimize the EU enlargement process – read in the article by Ivan Nagornyak and Maria Shlamberidze for ZN.UA.