Dossier
EU candidate countries
Coverage of EU candidate countries in the Nexus archive.
- Inside the EU’s latest plan to keep would-be members close
The European Commission is proposing economic incentives for EU candidate countries to accelerate reforms without lowering membership standards. The plan includes tailored benefits like funding access, trade arrangements, and partial single market entry based on progress, avoiding political rights before accession. France and Germany support the approach as an alternative to rejected 'reverse enlargement' ideas.