Doorkeepers and gatecrashers: EU enlargement and negotiation strategies

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details Vol.26, No.1, March 2004, p3-23
Publication Date March 2004
Content Type

Article abstract:

This paper discusses the eastward enlargement process of the EU in the framework of a simple 'war of attrition' bargaining game. Both players - the existing EU members and the applicants - benefit from enlargement, yet for the applicants, reform to the acquis is costly, while the EU prefers substantially reformed candidates. A waiting game unfolds. Within this framework the present enlargement round is analysed and policy results are deduced. For example, it is shown that delegating the evaluation of applicants to a third party, compensating applicants for their reform efforts or increasing the benefits for new members are all effective negotiation strategies for the EU that have been applied in the process.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/
Subject Categories
Countries / Regions