EU weighs phased single-market access for accession candidates, draft plan shows

The European Union is considering a plan to grant candidate countries phased access to its single market ahead of full membership, according to a draft plan reported by Anadolu Agency.

Under the proposal, countries seeking to join the EU could gain gradual access to elements of the bloc's single market as they progress through the accession process, rather than waiting until membership is finalized to receive economic integration.

The draft reportedly makes clear that this access would not be unconditional. Single-market access could be limited or withdrawn if a candidate country fails to meet conditions attached to the arrangement, such as continued progress on judicial independence, rule-of-law reforms and other membership criteria, according to the report.

The approach would mark a shift from the EU's traditional model of accession, under which countries receive little substantial market access until they complete the full membership process, a path that has taken more than a decade for some candidates.

Several countries are currently at various stages of the EU accession process, including candidates in the Western Balkans as well as Ukraine and Moldova.

The report did not specify a timeline for when a phased-access framework might be formally proposed, or which sectors of the single market an initial phase would cover.