Beyond the Chapter: Enlargement challenges for CFSP and ESDP

Book abstract:

The ten countries about to join the EU will have undergone a long and exacting programme to prepare for accession, and entry might seem for some to be the 'golden gate' to an opportunity rich future. There will be benefits undoubtedly but there are also challenges, and not only economic and cultural. Part of the process will have necessitated the candidate countries closing a number of chapters. This book explores the challenges facing the candidates and the Member States in two specific areas, the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and its subset, the Common European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). The expansion will place strains upon the EU administration and institutional procedures and the book addresses these also.

The author acknowledges the difficulties to be faced in providing comment on CFSP which is still in the formative phase and subjected to strong tides of opposition and questioning from many quarters. A common set of challenges have been chosen which allow for horizontal comparison between the candidates, the EU Member States and third parties.

The five groups are:

Those challenges that are not specific to enlargement but upon which enlargement will nevertheless have an impact;
Those challenges that are specific to enlargement;
Those challenges relating to third parties;
Those challenges raised by enlargement for other organisations;
The challenges specific to ESDP.

The work deals with these challenges but adopts a positive attitude and presents the many benefits that will arise from the accession and enlargement for CFSP. It closes with a plea for both EU members and candidates to follow up the rhetoric surrounding CFSP and ESDP with a firm commitment and show of action in ensuring the appropriate resources are made available.

The book will interest academics and students involved in EU Studies and specifically enlargement related issues.

Simon Duke is Associate Professor, 'European Policies' Unit, European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), Maastricht, The Netherlands.