EU States Divided Over Safeguard Clauses for Future Accession Treaties: Montenegro Likely First Affected
Ambassadors of EU member states exchanged views in Brussels on October 28 on introducing safeguard clauses into future accession treaties, revealing divisions over a draft legal text prepared by the European Commission. The clauses could be triggered in the event of a serious breach of the fundamental values in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, and Montenegro, the frontrunner for EU membership, is set to have the measures integrated into its accession treaty.
According to Agence Europe, France, Germany and the Benelux countries called for stronger safeguards, notably on the rule of law, while Austria and other members of the 'Friends of the Western Balkans' group placed greater emphasis on the principle of equality between member states and raised concerns that excessively stringent safeguards could hinder enlargement. A steering note from the Irish Presidency of the Council asked delegations whether the Commission's proposals provide a basis for taking work forward, and stressed that such measures should be proportionate, with clear grounds for activation and defined periods of application.
The Irish Presidency intends to continue discussions in the Working Party on Enlargement before member states examine the matter again in November, with negotiations on the specific wording continuing at technical level.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 黑山首都波德戈里察。CAPTAIN RAJU 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. Photo by CAPTAIN RAJU, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
