The European Union in the wake of eastern enlargement. Institutional and policy-making challenges

Abstract:

The accession process places great demands upon candidate countries, and previous enlargements have had moderate influences upon the European Union institutions and policy areas - usually met by small incremental changes. The latest enlargement - the fifth - presents an opportunity to reflect on those incremental institutional and policy adjustments. This book explores those areas and poses the question - how does the EU need to change in light of the eastern enlargement?

The work is organised over eleven chapters divided into three parts. Part one examines enlargement from a historical and comparative perspective and considers its influence on the current shape and structure of EU governance. Part two looks at the impact of enlargement on key policy areas such as the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The third part explores the institutional aspects of changes brought about by intergovernmental conferences, treaty negotiations and most recently the European Convention.

The work will interest scholars and students engaged in European Union studies and integration politics.

Amy Verdun holds the Jean Monnet Chair at the University of Victoria, Canada.

Osvaldo Cruci is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada.