Europe is growing – an overview
For over fifty years, since the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community under the Schuman Plan in 1950, the European Communities and subsequently the European Union (EU) have brought their member states peace and stability.
The six founding members were: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Five rounds of enlargement to date
Five rounds of enlargement have taken place to date:
1 Jan. 1973: Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom
1 Jan. 1981: Accession of Greece
1 Jan. 1986: Accession of Portugal and Spain
1 Jan. 1995: Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden
1 May 2004 : Accession of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia
1 Jan. 2007: Accession of Bulgaria and Romania (end of the fifth round of enlargement).
Negotiations on further accessions are in progress
The EU now has 27 member states following the end of the last round of enlargement on 1 Jan. 2007. The enlargement process is not yet complete, however:
Accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia began on 3 October 2005.
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has been an official candidate country since the European Council of 15/16 December 2005, but the Council has not taken any decision as yet on opening accession negotiations.
The remaining countries of the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo) have the status of potential candidate countries. The Council has requested the opinion of the Commission on the applications for EU membership submitted by Montenegro and Albania.
In July 2009 Iceland, since 1994 a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), submitted its application for EU membership.
The negotiations are conducted at an intergovernmental conference involving representatives of all EU member states as well as the relevant candidate country. The outcome requires the unanimous approval of all participants.
Any European country can apply for EU membership
Under the Treaty of Lisbon that entered into force on 1 December 2009, any European country which respects the values on which the Union is founded and is committed to promoting them can apply to become a member of the EU (Article 49 in conjunction with Article 2).
When the Iron Curtain was swept away in 1989/1990 many Central and Eastern European countries took advantage of this possibility: Hungary in March 1994, Poland in April 1994, Romania and the Slovak Republic in June 1995, Latvia in October 1995, Estonia in November 1995, Lithuania and Bulgaria in December 1995, the Czech Republic in January 1996 and Slovenia in June 1996.
Turkey had applied for membership already in April 1987, Cyprus and Malta applied in July 1990. In February 2003 Croatia applied for membership, in March 2004 the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in December 2008 Montenegro, in April 2009 Albania and in July 2009 Iceland. Serbia applied for membership in December 2009.
Enlargement process parameters following the fifth round of enlargement
Following the fifth round of enlargement, the pros and cons of EU enlargement have – as after previous rounds – been the subject of hot debate, in which also eurosceptical opinions have played a prominent part. Against this background it is crucial that the EU’s policy on enlargement should be carefully managed with a view to linking enlargement with the process of internal consolidation. The key here is greater emphasis on conditionality.
The pace of enlargement depends in particular on what progress individual candidate countries have made in meeting the set criteria as well as the EU’s capacity for enlargement. The basis for the German Government’s approach to enlargement is set out in the current coalition agreement.
The basis for the so-called “renewed consensus on enlargement” are the conclusions of the European Council and the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) of December 2006. These reaffirm that the EU’s enlargement policy is based, on the one hand, on an enlargement strategy combining consolidation, conditionality and communication and, on the other, the EU’s capacity to integrate new members.
The European Commission’s enlargement strategy 2009/2010
In the accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia the European Commission continues overall to expect progress in 2010; in Croatia’s case it believes they can be concluded as far as the technical aspects are concerned. In spring 2010 the Commission plans to submit its opinion on Iceland’s application for membership.
With regard to the countries of the Western Balkans, the Commission believes it is vital the reforms they have introduced as they move closer to the EU should be consolidated and made irreversible. It recommends generally that financial assistance in this connection be linked more systematically to progress on good government, including notably administrative and judicial reform and the fight against corruption. The priorities here are spelled out in what are called accession partnerships in the case of candidate countries and European partnerships in the case of potential candidate countries.Enlargement strategy
Enlargement is in the EU’s strategic interest
The term “enlargement” describes the process which culminates in a candidate country’s accession to the EU with the consent of its member states. With their help and support, the new member state can share in the success of the EU model and benefit from the values it embodies – democracy, the rule of law and protection of human rights and minorities.
Political reasons
Since its founding, the European Union’s goal has been to make Europe a bastion of peace, freedom, security, political stability and prosperity. An enlarged EU can act as a stabilizing force throughout Europe, for adopting the acquis – the entire body of EU law – enables new member states to contribute to European integration and share its benefits. Enlargement also allows all EU nationals to live, work and do business outside their own national borders, in a larger area with no internal borders. A good twenty years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall and five years after the EU’s biggest-ever round of enlargement, the widespread fears of adverse consequences for the old member states have been shown to be groundless.
One of the main reasons for founding the EU, however, was also to overcome dangerous nationalism. Here there is obviously room for improvement, especially with regard to the countries of the Western Balkans, where ethnic tensions are still rife and where, after all the wars the region has seen, reconciliation is only just beginning to make progress.
In the international arena an enlarged EU carries greater clout and consequently can make its voice more clearly heard. This means it can respond more effectively to current challenges in areas such as climate change, migration, terrorism, trade, development, improving competitiveness or regulating the financial markets. It can also play an active role in shaping globalization in the direction it believes is right.
Economic reasons
Following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, the EU has become one of the world’s largest economic areas with a population of some 480 million. All EU nationals stand to gain from strong growth in the accession countries, new markets and increased competition. In times of financial and economic crisis such as now, corrective action can be taken more effectively and quickly by a community than by countries acting on their own.
Free movement of goods and capital is something that benefits the German economy as well and helps create and protect jobs in Germany. German companies in particular are seizing the opportunity to invest in the new member states. Thanks to enlargement, the EU is able to keep within its own borders the relocation processes triggered by globalization. This generates jobs and investment in the new member states, which in turn protect jobs in the old member states – which might otherwise be lost to countries outside the EU. Since in the new member states EU law is fully in force, conditions are in place to protect investment and employees and ensure high safety, production and environmental standards.
United Europe as a global player
A well-managed enlargement policy will make for a strong European Union capable of playing an active role in the world of the twenty-first century. Both the current economic crisis and climate change have highlighted the need for global governance. But in today’s globalized world only an integrated Europe is well equipped to advance its interests. And only a united Europe can live up to its international responsibilities in the economic and political domain and overcome its preoccupation with itself and its painful past.
Last updated 01.02.2010