BRUSSELS

The EU is reportedly considering introducing a new model that would allow new members to join the bloc without full voting or veto rights in the initial stage, according to EU sources.

The idea is being discussed as part of efforts to move forward with enlargement despite repeated vetoes from Hungary and a few other capitals that have blocked progress on Ukraine's accession talks.

A Politico report indicates that under the new proposal, candidate countries like Ukraine, Moldova, and Montenegro could gain many advantages of EU membership, such as access to certain programs and funds, while temporarily giving up veto rights, long considered one of the most powerful tools for member states to shape EU decisions.

The push for this initiative comes largely from pro-enlargement governments, including Nordic and Baltic nations, as well as several Central European countries, which see EU expansion as a strategic necessity, the report notes.

The plan seeks to offer a more flexible and politically viable path to enlargement without requiring changes to the EU's founding treaties, a step that many member states consider politically unrealistic.

EU leaders are expected to discuss the proposals at the European Council summit on Oct. 23, though an EU official cautioned that no "breakthrough" decision is expected at this stage. The official added that "there are a lot of discussions on enlargement in general."

The new membership concept is seen by proponents as a practical solution to accelerate the accession of countries aligned with the EU's geopolitical interests, especially amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

However, during a press conference after the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas denied that there had been any formal discussion about allowing Moldova or other candidates to join the bloc without full voting rights.