France and Germany Propose EU Enlargement and Reform Plans

Recently, France and Germany, the EU's largest economies, have introduced new proposals for expanding the 27-member European Union, addressing concerns arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

• A policy paper, drafted by a group of 12 experts commissioned by the European ministers of France and Germany, was presented during a European ministerial meeting, offering potential paths for EU enlargement and reform.
• The policy paper, initiated in January, is a response to increasing calls for EU expansion and suggests four tiers of participation within the union.
• While countries like Ukraine, the Western Balkans, and Moldova are considered prime candidates for EU membership, ten countries are ....