The European Commission has outlined plans for a 15-year probation period and other safeguards for new EU member states, aiming to prevent a repeat of the democratic disputes associated with former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán.
Key facts
- The European Commission wants to avoid a repeat of Viktor Orbán among the next generation of EU member states.
- Enlargement commissioner Marta Kos outlined proposals for special safeguards during an interview with the Guardian and other European newspapers.
- The proposals are aimed at protecting the bloc from leaders who could flout democratic values and hold hostage decision making.
- The plans come as the EU prepares for enlargement into eastern Europe in the next few years.
The European Commission is proposing new safeguards, including a probation period for new member states, as it prepares for the bloc’s enlargement into eastern Europe in the coming years, according to the Guardian.
The EU commissioner for enlargement, Marta Kos, outlined the proposed measures in an interview with the Guardian and other European newspapers. The aim, she said, is to ensure there is no repeat Viktor Orbán among the next generation of EU member states.
The proposals centre on special safeguards to protect the bloc from leaders who could flout democratic values and hold hostage decision making. For many across the EU, that pattern of behaviour was exemplified by the former Hungarian prime minister.
The Commission’s planning reflects a wider effort to prepare the EU for taking in new members from eastern Europe. By building in protections at the point of accession, the bloc is seeking to address concerns about democratic backsliding before new states join.
According to the Guardian, Kos set out the plans as the Commission moves to ready itself for enlargement in the next few years, signalling that the question of how to guard democratic standards is central to the bloc’s future growth.
Why it matters
The EU has faced years of internal friction over disputes about democratic values and decision making, often associated with Hungary under Viktor Orbán. Building safeguards into the accession process for future members could reshape how the bloc expands and how it protects its core democratic principles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EU proposing for new member states?
According to the Guardian, the European Commission is proposing special safeguards, including a probation period, to protect the bloc from leaders who could flout democratic values and hold hostage decision making.
Who outlined the proposals?
Marta Kos, the EU commissioner for enlargement, outlined the proposals in an interview with the Guardian and other European newspapers.
Why is Viktor Orbán mentioned?
The Commission wants to ensure there is no repeat of the pattern of behaviour exemplified for many by the former Hungarian prime minister, who was associated with flouting democratic values and holding hostage decision making.