EU plans strict safeguard clauses and veto restrictions for future member states

New European Union member states face probationary periods exceeding 15 years, during which they will lose their national veto rights under new “safeguard” clauses in accession treaties, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said following the formal launch of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

The long duration of the proposed safeguards follows anger over Budapest’s refusal earlier this year to back a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, as well as persistent criticism that Hungary, which joined the EU in 2004, has repeatedly violated rule-of-law conditions established by Brussels.

Describing the decision to launch the first “cluster” of membership negotiations with both nations as “Mega Monday,” Kos appeared to endorse proposals supported by France, Germany, and other member states to restrict new members from voting on budget, security, and foreign policy decisions.

The decision to initiate a new formal round of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova comes amid demands from a growing number of national governments for protective measures should new member states roll back reforms related to democracy, the rule of law, or press freedom.

“This will be a new generation of accession treaties, in the sense that we will have new safeguards,” Kos said.

Kos added that the objective of the provisions concerning the new probationary periods is “to ensure that when new members are admitted, they will comply with European rules for 5, 10, or 15 years after joining.”

Last week, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg demanded new clauses to ensure that future EU members “do not undermine the EU’s capacity to act.”

Kos stressed that despite the introduction of these new clauses, the accession of any candidate country to the EU would not result in a second-tier or associate status.

“Full membership will only be possible when member states meet all requirements; there is no such thing as half-membership or quarter-membership. There is only full membership,” Kos said.