7 7Recommendations Recommendations 1. The European Union must understand the consequences of a failed enlargement process to mobilise its full resources and ensure a positive outcome.2. The prospect of non-enlargement scenarios — however undesirable — should be considered in the policy planning for the Union and countries in the neighbourhood.3. The urgency of this strategic plan must be consistently emphasised throughout the current enlargement process for both the EU and candidate countries. 4. The enlargement process should not be conditioned on the full policy preparedness of the existing bloc to accept new member states. None of the past enlargements were prepared institutionally. Administrative proceedings should not obstruct the ongoing enlargement process when there is clear political momentum for change.5. EU policy planning must estimate cost-benefit ratios for each scenario to flush out real interests and downplay disinformation on the enlargement.6. To enhance EU-neighbourhood connectivity, the Union should employ differentiated financial incentives, and grant observer status in the EU Council and Parliament to foster successful enlargement and mitigate potential challenges. 7. Post-enlargement conditionality, extended from the examples of Bulgaria's and Romania's accession, will expedite the enlargement process to neutralise security threats of foreign interference. Additionally, post-accession conditionality aims to ensure that newly admitted states catch up with EU regulations. 7
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