Ready plans have been laid for the implementation of a four-speed Europe, there will be an inner circle, which will not include several states, including Hungary.

French and German experts have proposed comprehensive structural reforms of the European Union, as they believe the union is under increasing pressure to expand the community with new member states by the end of the decade. The purpose of the report commissioned by the EU's two largest countries is for the union to review the existing rules and prepare for the governance of a community of 30 or more nations, vg.hu reports based on Politico 's information .

The authors envision the European Union in four concentric circles: 1. the inner circle, 2. the EU, 3. associated members, 4. the European Political Community (a loose association of European leaders that meets twice a year).

EU ministers will discuss the document on Wednesday, preparing the ground for the summit of national leaders in October, where enlargement is expected to be at the top of the agenda.

It is clear that EU enlargement and EU reform go hand in hand. And now we have to start with that

German Europe Minister Anna Lührmann told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday morning.

The report of the group of 12 experts recommends radical reforms to simplify the structure of the EU, including

reducing the number of Commissioners and MEPs and eliminating national vetoes.

The study investigates

the stricter linking of EU payments to rule of law conditions and a move towards majority voting instead of unanimity in the European Council.

In a move that has proved controversial for France and Germany, experts also recommend giving smaller EU countries more voting weight in the council to balance the loss of national vetoes.

Currently, eight countries are candidates for membership, Ukraine , Moldova and six Balkan countries . The article reminds that the President of the European Parliament supported substantive negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU in June, which can begin this December. Lührmann emphasized that he would avoid amending EU treaties, a process that could take years and is unpopular among many EU leaders. "I would like to take advantage of this flexibility, which allows us to make changes in certain areas without amending the contract, such as qualified majority decisions," said Anna Lührmann.

Cover image: Emmanuel Macron / Photo: MTI