EU begins talks on tougher safeguards for newcomers, with Montenegro first in line

EU governments have held their first discussion on draft legal provisions to impose tougher safeguards on new member states, including a clause that could strip them of their voting rights, with Montenegro set to be the first test case.

The European Commission proposed the safeguards as part of a broader strategy to prepare the EU for further enlargement. As the frontrunner for membership, Montenegro would be the first country to have the new measures written into its accession treaty.

“In this context, it is important that the Council formulates its own views and provides preliminary guidance on the safeguard clauses, including to ensure that such measures are proportionate, have clear grounds for activation and defined periods of application,” reads a steering note shared ahead of the talks.

EU ambassadors were asked to provide feedback on the Commission's draft legal text, obtained by Euronews, but member states were divided along familiar lines.

The so-called Friends of the Western Balkans, including Italy and Austria, warned against excessively strict safeguards that could hamper enlargement, while countries such as the Netherlands and France pressed for stronger guarantees on respect for the rule of law.

Work on the precise wording will continue at the technical level, with another discussion among ambassadors expected in November.