“Trojan horse” at EU’s door? Member states push back against fast expansion

France, Germany, the Netherlands and several other EU countries are opposed to the rapid admission of new members, fearing that governments in those countries could change, shift their political course and block decisions across the bloc, POLITICO reports.

The concern comes as several countries are moving closer to EU membership, raising questions over how quickly the bloc should proceed with enlargement. Montenegro is hoping to join by 2028, with Ukraine and Moldova planning to follow behind, while Iceland is weighing whether to restart accession talks. 

Although EU governments are publicly supportive of further enlargement, some member states have voiced opposition to moving too quickly, pointing to the possibility that new governments could later obstruct key EU policies, as Hungary did under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

There's a reason the enlargement process takes decades,” said a diplomat from a sceptical country. “The fear is we bring in a Trojan horse.”

The European Commission is preparing proposals to reform the enlargement process ahead of the October 15 summit.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos stated that Brussels recognises the need to “strengthen the political support of all 27 member states” and confirmed that “the Commission will soon make proposals [on] how to prepare for a larger union.”

Three senior officials told POLITICO that the European Commission is revising the rules for new members to address concerns among national capitals about more complicated decision-making and the distribution of resources if the bloc expands.

The final details of the initiative are being kept secret. However, according to sources, the proposals will include provisions defining the rights and obligations of new members, as well as mechanisms preventing them from blocking decisions if they fail to meet their commitments.

By Jeyhun Aghazada