The European Commission is planning to offer additional funding to countries wishing to join the European Union in order to speed up their preparations for membership. This was stated by the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi in the Reuters.


EU Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi has announced his intention to grant access to the single market to EU candidate countries to speed up integration.


Currently, eight countries have the official status of EU candidates, namely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. Georgia and Kosovo are considered potential candidates.


"In a few weeks, you will see us present a new look at enlargement and a package that will now include 10 candidate countries or countries with a European perspective," Varhelyi said after a meeting in Spain of EU ministers who discussed how the EU should prepare to welcome new members.


The European Union intends to provide additional funds to accelerate integration, in particular as part of the Western Balkans growth plan. This will help to reduce the "economic and social gap" between these countries and the rest of the EU members before their actual accession.


According to the new scheme, the candidate countries will gradually have access to the EU's single market of 450 million consumers. This will allow for the free movement of goods, services, labor and capital before full membership in the EU.


Varhelyi emphasized that the European Commission's proposal would also require additional funding from the EU to help the candidates speed up the necessary reforms. The specific amounts were not specified.


Varhelyi emphasized that these measures demonstrate the EU's readiness to welcome new members and expect the candidate countries to use the opportunities responsibly.