EU Commission floats safeguards against democratic backsliding by new members

The European Commission proposed measures on Tuesday to prepare the EU to take in countries such ​as Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova in coming years while trying ‌to reassure existing members about potential political and economic costs. The proposals by the European Union’s executive body reflect a renewed interest among EU members in expanding the 27-nation bloc, driven ​largely by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Kyiv’s desire to ​join the bloc as part of a peace settlement. The proposed ⁠reforms include a measure to allow other EU countries to suspend a ​new member's voting rights during the first 15...