EU to Offer Candidate Deadlines, Weighs Limiting New Members' Veto Powers

The EU is preparing to accelerate enlargement by setting clear accession deadlines for candidate countries, while also devising mechanisms to prevent new members from blocking decisions as Hungary has done. This marks a first in EU policy, signaling a shift toward conditionality and institutional safeguards amid pressure from Russia, China, and the US. The proposal's specifics and member-state consensus remain uncertain, but it could reshape EU decision-making dynamics.