German minister proposes EU seats without voting rights

Germany’s Europe minister, Gunther Krichbaum, has proposed allowing candidate countries to attend European Parliament sessions before they become full EU members.

They would take part without voting rights. Krichbaum said full membership would remain the final goal.

He said the plan would give Western Balkan candidates a place inside EU institutions after more than a decade of accession talks.

Krichbaum also said it would signal to Russia and China that the countries belong with the European Union.

He argued that the current accession process had lost credibility in the Western Balkans and should be divided into clear stages.