EU Commission to Scrap Veto Power in Enlargement Decisions

The European Commission is preparing to unveil in September a comprehensive reform of the European Union’s enlargement policy, according to Bloomberg. The proposal would abolish the existing veto power held by individual member states when decisions are made on admitting new countries into the bloc.

Scope of the proposed changes

The reform extends beyond altering the voting mechanism. It also entails a full review of the eligibility criteria and accession requirements applied to candidate countries. These standards govern political, economic, and legal conditions that aspirants must meet before joining the EU.

Context of slowing enlargement

Bloomberg reported that the pace of EU expansion has significantly decelerated in recent years due to internal disagreements among member states. Several countries have repeatedly deployed their veto as a tool of leverage—either to delay or block accession processes, particularly for Western Balkan nations.

Consensus requirement and political concerns

Adoption of the reform would require unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states. That threshold raises concerns among some governments about diminished influence over future enlargement outcomes, potentially triggering debate across the bloc.

Purpose of the new mechanism

The revised system aims explicitly to prevent procedural deadlock and political coercion. Under the current framework, certain member states have used the veto to exert pressure either on candidate countries or on fellow EU members during negotiations.

Timeline for parliamentary discussion

The draft reform is scheduled to be formally presented to EU member states and debated in the European Parliament by the end of next month—September.

Candidate status and stalled negotiations

In 2025, Western Balkan countries—as well as Ukraine and Moldova—were granted official candidate status for EU membership. Yet formal accession negotiations have progressed slowly. Hungary and other member states have obstructed specific stages of the process on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the EU had launched accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. However, those negotiations stalled amid demands for domestic reforms and persistent political disagreements within the Union itself.