The term “reverse enlargement” (or “enlargement in reverse”) in the context of EU policy is now most often heard in connection with the concept of gradual integration of candidate countries.
The essence of this strategy, to which Brussels is leaning, is market access before membership. Instead of waiting decades for full-fledged accession, countries are offered to enjoy the benefits of the EU single market piecemeal (energy, roaming, trade) as conditions are met.
Many leaders (especially France and Germany) believe that the union cannot expand without changing its rules. This includes abandoning the principle of unanimity in voting so that new members cannot block important decisions.
Reformist approaches
For this, they will try to reform the EU according to the principle of “Europe of different speeds”. This is a model where countries are at different levels of integration depending on economic development. Some are in the core (Eurozone, Schengen), and candidates are gradually pulled up to them, receiving funding in exchange for reforms.
Thus, candidate countries can feel the benefits of membership even before full membership.
The program, one can say, is already being implemented: under the Growth Plans adopted for Moldova and the Western Balkan countries, EU financial support (e.g., a 6 billion euro package for the Balkans and similar measures for Moldova) is directly linked to success in individual sectors.
These include implementation in the Digital Single Market, connection to the EU energy networks, joint gas purchases and many others that include candidates for European production chains.
Accelerated accession of one Ukraine
And the other day came another piece of news – EU countries discussed options to grant Ukraine limited participation in the association by 2027, before all the technical requirements for accession are officially met, despite the resistance of individual countries. This was reported by Politico, citing officials and diplomats.
However, urgency should not be achieved at the expense of principles writes euobserver. If “reverse enlargement” becomes the underlying logic of the Union’s next enlargement, it risks solving one problem while stealthily creating another.
According to the newspaper, there is a real danger that the current debate will lead to an individual solution for Ukraine, while quietly sidelining the other candidate countries.
This would be a strategic and moral failure for the EU. And “reform without enlargement” risks losing relevance.
