الاتحاد الأوروبي يدرس ضم دول جديدة بـ"عضوية ناقصة"

The European Union is informally studying the possibility of admitting new countries without full voting rights, while foreign ministers from across the continent meet today (Monday) in Luxembourg to discuss the issues of Ukraine, the Middle East, and other matters.
Politico reported, citing informed sources, that discussions have taken place in European capitals to break the deadlock over EU expansion. It revealed that the plan being discussed allows for the accession of new countries to the Union without initially enjoying full voting rights, in an attempt to expedite the entry of countries like Ukraine, Moldova, and Montenegro.
Sources indicated that the proposal is still in its early stages and requires the approval of all 27 member states, stipulating that full membership is granted only after implementing institutional reforms that make it difficult for any country to use the veto power to block European decisions.

Attempt to Overcome Obstacles

According to the American newspaper, this proposal came after objections from Hungary and some other countries regarding the expansion of the Union before reforming its mechanisms, fearing the impact on markets or national security. The plan is seen as an attempt to overcome the obstacles that have hindered the accession process for years, especially amid tensions between Budapest and Brussels over support for Ukraine.
In this context, the head of the European Affairs Committee in the German Parliament, Anton Hofreiter, stated that new members should temporarily waive their veto rights until the reforms are completed, as the expansion of the Union should not be slowed down by a single country's refusal to change.

Flexible and Applicable Mechanism

The new formula allows candidate countries to enjoy most of the economic and political membership benefits, such as access to the single market and support programs, without granting them the right to object to decisions in the initial phase.
European diplomats have considered this mechanism to be flexible and applicable, as it does not require amending the EU's foundational treaties.
Austria, Sweden, and Germany are pushing in this direction, seeing it as the only way to maintain the momentum of expansion in the face of increasing Russian influence. Austrian Minister for European Affairs, Claudia Plakolm, stated that "expansion must be faster and less bureaucratic, otherwise the EU will lose its position to other powers lurking around."

Ukraine and Moldova at the Forefront

The accession of Ukraine and Moldova is viewed as part of the European strategy to counter Russian expansion, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has made expansion a central focus of her plan through 2030.
Despite political pressure, some European leaders, such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have ruled out Ukraine's accession before 2034, emphasizing that its financial impact on the EU budget in the medium term will be limited.

Growing Disappointment in the Balkans

Meanwhile, disappointment is growing in the Western Balkan countries that have been waiting for years to join. Montenegro's President Jakov Milatović stated that the last country to join was Croatia over a decade ago, while the UK has left... so it is time to revive the idea of the Union as a magnet for attraction."
The European Commission is expected to soon present what is known as the "expansion package," which includes proposals to reform decision-making mechanisms within the Union in preparation for welcoming new members. Observers fear that reducing the powers of new members could create "degrees of membership" within the Union, a precedent that might threaten the unity of the European bloc.