EU Considers Opening Single Market to Candidate Countries for Gradual Integration

The European Union is reportedly considering a plan to offer candidate countries, including Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, and Montenegro, 'gradual integration' into its single market. This unprecedented move would provide frictionless trade and access to research programs while their applications are being assessed, aiming to strengthen European value chains and reduce strategic dependencies. The proposal suggests that economic benefits would be proportional to a country's support for EU foreign policy objectives and adherence to non-transfer of key technologies to hostile states.