New members joining EU may be deprived of veto power

New countries could join the European Union without full voting rights, in a move that could make leaders such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán more amenable to the likes of Ukraine becoming part of the bloc, Politico writes.

The proposal to change EU membership rules is at an early stage and would need to be approved by all existing nations, according to three European diplomats and an EU official with knowledge of the discussions. The idea is that new members would achieve full rights once the EU has overhauled the way it functions to make it more difficult for individual countries to veto policies.

It’s the latest attempt by pro-EU enlargement governments to breathe life into an expansion process that is currently being blocked by Budapest and a few other capitals over fears it could bring unwanted competition for local markets or compromise security interests. The European Commission, Nordic and Baltic states, as well as central European countries, have traditionally been favorable to enlargement.

The initiative would allow countries currently on the path to membership, such as Ukraine, Moldova and Montenegro, to enjoy many of the benefits of EU membership but without veto rights ― something that EU governments have always cherished as the ultimate tool to prevent EU policies they don’t like.