EU considers opening its single market to candidate countries – Politico

Politico has learned that EU candidate countries will be offered unprecedented "gradual integration" into the EU's single market, including frictionless trade and access to research programmes while their applications are being assessed.

Source: a draft European Commission proposal obtained by Politico, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Under the plan, the EU would open its market to candidate countries provided they agree to stand with the EU against hostile states and industrial competitors.

Quote: "Earlier integration would open opportunities for Union businesses, strengthen European value chains and reduce strategic dependencies. The Commission will identify where verified regulatory alignment and enforcement capacity allow deeper participation in research, innovation and industrial cooperation, and wider market access. Priority should go to opportunities that advance accession preparations and meet shared economic and strategic needs."

Details: The review, prepared under the leadership of Alexandre Adam, chief adviser to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, would radically change the EU's approach to the countries in the region. At present, almost all the economic benefits of closer cooperation are reserved for EU members, but no new country has joined the EU since Croatia in 2013.

As part of the review, Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and Montenegro will be offered "roadmaps" designed to accelerate the accession process in the coming years. In other countries, such as North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Türkiye, the process is dragging on. Concerns are growing that they could move away from the EU or closer to Russia or China.

Under the Commission's plan, candidate countries will receive economic benefits in proportion to their support for the EU's foreign policy objectives. Access to the single market will also depend on whether they refrain from transferring key technologies to hostile states and trade competitors.

"As industrial and market integration deepens, participation in sensitive sectors must be accompanied by cooperation on investment screening, export controls, sanctions implementation and the protection of sensitive technologies," the review document says.

It notes that market access should take into account strategic alignment, critical dependencies and the ability to manage risks to infrastructure and supply chains.

According to the review, the ultimate goal for candidate countries should be full EU membership, and this period "should be put to full strategic use to both prepare the Union for a larger membership and deepen gradual integration in areas of mutual interest".

Background:

• The European Commission has postponed until 6 October the presentation of its assessment of how future EU enlargement will affect the EU's key policies and what changes the EU itself may need to accept new member states.
• European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos previously outlined four areas for changes to the EU enlargement process: internal reforms of the EU, strengthened democratic safeguards, gradual integration and transitional measures.

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