The European Union faces a “very divisive” period if it pursues sweeping reforms to adapt to Ukraine and other new members joining the bloc in the future, according to a former top EU official. Former European Commission president José Manuel Barroso told the Financial Times that while he fully supports Kyiv’s accession bid, discussions about “fundamental changes of the institutional balance?.?.?.?can be very divisive in the European Union”.

EU countries have started to present proposals on how the union should reform before welcoming new members. No membership is imminent, with European Council president Charles Michel recently touting 2030 as a possible next accession date, a target Barroso referred to as “aspirational”.

In addition to Ukraine and Moldova which were granted candidate status last year, Turkey, Georgia and six countries in the western Balkans are at various stages in the EU accession process. The EU commission will report on all 10 countries’ progress in October.