- Blog post
- 4 czerwca 2024
Enlargement and the future of Europe: views from the capitals
Recent events in Georgia have pushed enlargement policy to the forefront of the EU agenda once again. This, coupled with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and the resulting implications for candidate countries in the region, has pressed policymakers to envision what an enlarged future European Union could look like.
It is 11 years since the EU welcomed its last member state, Croatia, into the Union. With nine candidate countries, and potential future candidates waiting in the wings, there remain open questions about what the EU must do in order to make enlargement a success, and what the EU might look like in the wake of future enlargement.
In order to do so, it is vital to look to the capitals, which are so crucial to promoting the benefits of membership of the union for EU citizens and candidate countries alike.
Discussion on enlargement and the future of Europe
Johannes Pollak and Paul Schmidt, editors of the book ‘Enlargement and the future of Europe: views from the capitals’ gave Council Secretariat colleagues an overview of their findings, in a talk moderated by former deputy Director General, and Secretary General of the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), Jim Cloos.
An engaging and insightful discussion took place on a wide range of areas: from the geopolitical, social, economic, and existential issues around enlargement, to the necessity to highlight the benefits that EU enlargement brings, in particular by sharing stories about what joining the EU has meant to individual citizens. The lack of discussion surrounding the cost of non-enlargement should also be addressed by the EU institutions and national capitals.
The panellists acknowledged that the enlargement process can be complicated, messy and long, albeit often necessarily, and that enlargement is not only about the mechanics of making it happen. It’s also about political will on both sides and the emotions experienced by people/citizens in the candidate countries.
How to borrow the book
‘Enlargement and the future of Europe: views from the capitals’ was published in January 2024 as part of the ‘Future of Europe’ series, one of TEPSA’s flagship activities.
The book analyses the national visions of the 27 Member States and 14 EU neighbours for the enlargement of the European Union (EU), highlighting 41 national histories, policies, and corresponding public perceptions of European integration.
Each chapter offers a different focus on the challenges and opportunities of enlargement for 41 different countries. One of the book’s strengths is that it is very practical, presenting concrete policy recommendations to national governments and the EU on how to move forward productively. This book is for anyone interested in the EU and the future of Europe – specialists and non-specialists alike. You can read a single chapter (all are short) or dip into several to understand the views from different national perspectives.
It is available to borrow from the Council Library in print and electronic format:
Earlier editions in this series can also be consulted:
This post does not necessarily represent the positions, policies, or opinions of the Council of the European Union or the European Council.
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