The European Commission is preparing plans to extend economic benefits to EU candidate countries before they formally join the bloc as part of a "gradual integration" strategy aimed at speeding enlargement without lowering entry standards, Politico reported on June 26. The commission will seek member states' backing at a European Council in October or December.

EU member states broadly agree on the need for faster enlargement, particularly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but remain cautious about premature admission, prompting Brussels to couple any acceleration with tighter conditionality. The bloc has nine candidate countries at the moment, with Montenegro seen as the frontrunner and Ukraine and Moldova both having just opened accession talks, while the bids of Serbia, Turkey and Georgia have stalled. Leaders reaffirmed during a summit in Montenegro earlier in June the need to speed up the process. France and Germany are among the most vocal supporters of enlargement and have both endorsed "membership-lite" formulas.