Here in Europe’s capital, events have been moving unusually fast around the EU enlargement process, as a Franco-German proposal on the way forward almost became reality less than a day after it was presented.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron’s offices prepared the proposal, driven by a shared view that enlargement currently is simply too slow. They are putting on the table a “process-oriented” approach – one that aims to simplify accession procedures, cut through bureaucratic hurdles and focus more on substance than on ticking boxes.

In practical terms, this means that candidate countries could start to receive the concrete benefits of membership even before full membership as long as they meet reform benchmarks. It foresees increased participation in EU policies and institutions.

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