European Commission Drafts Stricter Accession Treaties to Prevent Democratic Backsliding in Future Member States

The European Commission is drafting a new accession treaty for Montenegro with long-term safeguards to protect democratic values and the rule of law.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 3:28 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politico

A New Blueprint for European Integration Built on Democratic Resilience

The European Commission is currently finalizing a revolutionary draft treaty for Montenegro that will serve as the mandatory template for all future EU enlargements. This strategic pivot marks a fundamental shift in how the bloc manages new entries, moving away from the trust-based models of the past toward a system rooted in enforceable, long-term legal guarantees. Brussels officials have made it clear that the primary objective is to prevent any new candidate from mirroring the political trajectory of Hungary, which has frequently used its veto power to stall critical pan-European initiatives. This test case with Podgorica represents the most significant overhaul of the accession process since the major expansion of 2004, reflecting a union that is increasingly wary of internal sabotage.

The Shadow of Budapest and the Lessons of Previous Expansion

The motivation for these heightened requirements stems directly from the diplomatic paralysis often attributed to Viktor Orbán’s administration in Hungary. For years, the EU has struggled to find effective mechanisms to penalize member states that drift away from core democratic values once they are safely within the bloc's borders. The 2004 enlargement, which brought in ten new nations, included safeguard clauses that expired after a mere three years, leaving the union with limited recourse against backsliding. By using Montenegro as a pilot project, the Commission intends to draft permanent or semi-permanent triggers that would allow the bloc to respond decisively if a new member fails to maintain the independence of its judiciary or the freedom of its press.

Diplomatic Friction and the Weight of the French Veto

While the Commission and several member states are eager to move forward, the project faces significant internal resistance from Paris. French officials have adopted an ultra-cautious stance, effectively stalling the formation of the working group responsible for drafting the actual treaty text. This hesitation is largely driven by domestic political concerns ahead of the 2027 French elections, as expansion remains a sensitive topic for the electorate. Meanwhile, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović remains a central figure in these negotiations, expressing a willingness to accept safeguards while drawing a firm red line at an...