Cristina Gerasimov
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EU Commission approves pre-enlargement package, paving way for Ukraine's accession steps
On 6 October the European Commission approved a package of pre-enlargement policy proposals designed to prepare the EU to accept new members, including Ukraine. The package proposes shifting selected areas from unanimity to qualified majority voting, introducing safeguards against rule-of-law backsliding, creating a framework of "gradual integration" for candidate states, and considering targeted mechanisms for Ukraine's agricultural sector. Indicative accession roadmaps for Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania are due on 28 October, with the first high-level discussion of the proposals scheduled for the European Council meeting on 15–16 October.