EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos called on the EU to change its rules. She said the bloc must enable a new wave of countries to join.

She urged member states to present their own plans. She addressed capitals that rejected the Commission’s proposals.

Kos said the European Union has already offered three options. However, without a decision from member states, the process cannot move forward.

The first option keeps the status quo. The second option reforms the current system to avoid long delays for candidate countries. The third option introduces “reverse enlargement.” In this model, countries join before they complete key reforms.

Meanwhile, opposition complicates the process. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán continues to block unanimous support for Ukraine. As a result, its EU path faces delays.

Brussels presented reverse enlargement as a solution. It would allow countries like Ukraine to access the single market and investment schemes earlier.

However, Kos said this option lacks support. She called it a major shift. At the same time, she rejected the status quo.

Therefore, the EU now debates a middle path. Leaders aim to redesign the system. They want to speed up gradual integration.

Earlier this month, officials also raised concerns. Ursula von der Leyen and her team supported the proposal. However, many capitals see it as unrealistic.

Diplomats cited legal challenges and political risks. They fear new members could later block EU decisions. Hungary already shows this risk.

Still, support for Ukraine remains strong. However, most member states insist on full negotiations before membership.

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