EU Mulls Enforcing Probation for New Members

(MENAFN) The European Union is exploring a strategy to admit new members while imposing a “probation” period to ensure adherence to Brussels’ standards and values, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said.

Speaking in an interview with media published Tuesday, Kos acknowledged that her proposal stems from a concern about “Russians coming in the back door.”

The remarks coincide with the release of the bloc’s annual report on candidate and aspirant countries. While Montenegro received praise, Georgia—whose negotiations with the EU stalled amid Western-backed protests—was given an “F.”

Kos outlined that the EU could establish “a transition period, a kind of probation, safeguards” for incoming members, which might even allow for their expulsion. She cautioned that these plans are still in preliminary stages.

“I don’t want to go down as the commissioner bringing in the Trojan horses who will be then active in five, 10 or 15 years,” she said, addressing fears that the approach could create a “two-tier” membership system.

The proposed framework would likely raise the bar for candidate nations, including Ukraine and Moldova, which Kos described as being grouped together in what she called an “artificial” move.

“Much more important is really going through the reforms. And there is a lot to do with both countries, Ukraine and Moldova,” she said.

The EU’s cautious stance is reflected in the enlargement report, which stressed the bloc’s dual responsibility: “to ensuring both the readiness of aspiring members as well as the EU’s preparedness to welcome them.”

The report further emphasized accountability measures, stating: “To ensure that new Member States continue to safeguard and maintain their track record on the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights, future Accession Treaties should contain stronger safeguards against backsliding on commitments made during the accession negotiations.”

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