The European Union intends to open its economy to countries awaiting membership, provided that they agree to present a united front with the EU against "hostile states and industrial competitors."
According to "Armenpress," this is reported by Politico, citing a draft proposal from the European Commission. "Candidate countries, some of which have been waiting for decades to join the EU, will be offered unprecedented 'gradual integration' into the single market, including unobstructed trade and the opportunity to participate in research programs even while their applications are being reviewed. The single market is the main priority for economic convergence," the media outlet notes.
It is reported that the document outlines the advantages that are expected to be provided to candidates before their official membership, which, according to the authors, could create new opportunities for EU entrepreneurship, strengthen European production and consumption chains, and reduce their strategic dependence. The European Commission's initiative implies a radical revision of the EU's approach to neighboring countries. Currently, almost all economic benefits arising from close cooperation are only available to EU member states, but no new countries have joined the union since Croatia's accession in 2013.
Within the framework of this initiative, Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, and Montenegro will be offered "roadmaps" aimed at accelerating their membership process in the coming years.
Meanwhile, as noted, the membership issues of North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Turkey are being prolonged, raising concerns about their diminishing interest in the EU or possible rapprochement with Russia and China.
According to the European Commission's plan, the provision of economic privileges to candidate countries will depend on their support for the EU's foreign policy objectives. In particular, access to the common market will be conditioned on the refusal to provide key technologies to hostile states and trade competitors. "As industrial and market convergence deepens, involvement in sensitive sectors must be accompanied by cooperation in areas such as investment screening, export controls, compliance with sanctions regimes, and protection of critical technologies," the European Commission's document states.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen began a tour of the Western Balkans on September 30, during which she will visit Kosovo and North Macedonia, which, according to the new plan, will not be able to benefit from the accelerated rapprochement process with the EU.
* This text was automatically translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
