Brussels wants to give new EU members less power temporarily
The European Commission is working on safeguards for a larger Union, but member states still have to approve the proposals.
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Brussels wants to prevent new EU member states from blocking decisions or reversing democratic rules after joining. According to public European documents and reporting, measures under consideration include temporary restrictions on voting rights and wider use of qualified-majority decision-making.
The European Commission is preparing new proposals on the enlargement of the European Union. They are being put forward as Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova move more quickly towards membership. The European Parliament has long warned that a larger Union could be harder to govern if unanimity remains necessary for many decisions.
According to a draft reported on by Reuters, the EU could monitor new members more closely during a transitional period. Under that scenario, existing member states could, by qualified majority, temporarily suspend certain rights of a new member, including voting rights. Reports mention a period of up to fifteen years. The precise text is not yet public and no decision has been taken on the plan.
The current accession procedure uses unanimity at important stages. All governments must agree to open negotiations and to final accession. Individual member states can also slow progress during the negotiations. The European Parliament has therefore proposed deciding some interim steps by qualified majority.
According to a briefing by the European Parliament, the Netherlands is among a group of countries supporting temporary restrictions on voting rights and additional safeguards for the rule of law. Belgium, Germany, France and Luxembourg are mentioned in the same context. Other member states, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, fear that new countries would then become second-class members of the Union.
The debate touches on a broader choice. The EU wants to enlarge to increase its security and influence, but at the same time wants to prevent new governments from weakening democratic commitments after accession. For candidate countries, equal membership is precisely what makes joining attractive; for existing member states, the Union’s ability to function is the central concern. The European Council will discuss enlargement and reforms later this month.
There is still no definitive proposal on which the member states or the European Parliament have voted. Nor is it clear which countries would ultimately fall under a transitional arrangement. The debate therefore mainly shows the conditions under which future enlargement could become politically viable.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The EU is preparing enlargement and institutional reforms.
- Unanimity is required for important steps in the current accession process.
- The Commission and member states are discussing additional safeguards for the rule of law and governability.
Left
Arguments Enlargement should bring democratic and social progress, not result in a permanent second tier for new member states. Conditions are defensible, but restricting voting rights could alienate countries and citizens from the Union.
Values Equality, democratic legitimacy and the protection of minorities.
Consequences A strict transitional arrangement could undermine reforms and weaken trust in the EU, while strong rule-of-law conditions could provide protection.
Centre
Arguments A larger Union needs workable decision-making and enforceable conditions. Temporary, clear and verifiable safeguards could form a compromise as long as full rights ultimately remain the objective.
Values Institutional stability, legal certainty and gradual integration.
Consequences A carefully designed system could make enlargement possible without blocking decision-making; unclear rules could instead cause new conflicts.
Right
Arguments Member states must retain their sovereignty and veto power. New countries should receive full influence only when their democratic institutions are demonstrably stable, but Brussels should not centralise further at the expense of existing countries.
Values National control, security and protection against the concentration of power.
Consequences More majority decisions could override national interests; delaying full rights could, according to this approach, limit the risks of rapid enlargement.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is based on public European documents and reporting about a draft proposal. The text clearly distinguishes between existing rules, political proposals and a decision that has not yet been adopted.
- confirmed The European Council will discuss enlargement and reforms in October 2026. — The Council has announced that strategic discussion. source
- confirmed The current accession procedure has important stages at which unanimity is required. — The European Commission describes unanimity for the negotiating framework and accession. source
- confirmed The Netherlands is mentioned as supporting temporary safeguards for new member states. — This is stated in the briefing by the European Parliament’s research service. source
- uncertain A fifteen-year transitional period has been definitively established. — The period comes from reporting on a draft and has not been found in definitive EU legislation. source
Editor's note
It is certain that the EU is preparing enlargement and institutional reforms, and that unanimity is a sticking point. The temporary restriction of voting rights and the fifteen-year period come from reporting on a draft and are not yet established EU policy.Sources
- Outlook for the European Council meeting of 15–16 October 2026 — European Parliamentary Research Service
- EU Commission floats new safeguards as bloc considers expansion — Reuters via Yahoo News
- A strong Europe in a volatile world — European Commission
- Steps towards joining — European Commission
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „uitbreiding vetorecht”
- Het Parool — „uitbreiding vetorecht”
- Trouw — „uitbreiding vetorecht”