EU Enlargement

Question 1

Reason for enlargement

Answer 1

• a geopolitical means of stabilising the continent and also stronger EU against other geopolitical actors
• economic cooperation leads to interdependency leads to avoiding conflict

Question 2

1st enlargement

Answer 2

1973
Ireland, GB, Denmark (including Greenland)
now 9 MS

Question 3

3rd enarlgement

Answer 3

1986
Spain & Portugal
now 12 MS

Question 4

2nd enlargement

Answer 4

1981
Greece
now 10 MS

Question 5

4th enlargement

Answer 5

1995
Austria, Finland, Sweden
now 15 MS

Question 6

2004

Answer 6

5th and biggest ever enlargement
10 new countries, now 25 MS
Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus

Question 7

6th enlargement

Answer 7

2007
Romania and Bulgaria
now 27 MS

Question 8

7th and so far last enlargement

Answer 8

2013
Croatia
now 28 MS

Question 9

UK leaves the EU

Answer 9

Feb 2020
now 27 MS

Question 10

Effect of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine to Enlargement

Answer 10

• Ukraine applied for EU membership within days (28/2/2022)
• directly affected 6 western balkan countries and their accession
• EU is very aware now of risk of instability in the Balkans

Question 11

Copenhagen criteria

Answer 11

1. shared democratic & political values (need to have stable institutions guaranteeing democracy)
2. functioning & competitive market economy
3. legislative allignment with acquis communautare (full body of EU law, including the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities)
4. EU’s absorbtion capacity

Question 12

European Political Community (EPC)

Answer 12

meetings of Heads of state or government of European Countries, officially not replacing Council of Europe, but way to work closer with European non-EU countries
- towards a gradual accession?

Question 13

IPA

Answer 13

Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance

The European Union provides the countries with financial support through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. From 2014-2020, the EU dedicated EUR 11.7 billion for this purpose, with continued funding foreseen for 2021-2027. The EU and the national authorities decide on the areas where to invest the funds.

Question 14

New Enlargement Methodology

Answer 14

2020

The revised enlargement methodology builds on four main principles

1. Credibility
   Candidate countries need to deliver on the reforms they promised, and EU needs to deliver when they do.
2. Stronger political steer
   Engaging with the candidates at top level through regular summits and ministerial meetings.
3. A more dynamic process
   Clustering chapters will allow for more thorough political discussions on thematic areas and to identify opportunities for early alignment and integration into EU policies.

The cluster on fundamentals (rule of law, economic criteria and public administration reform) will take a central role and sufficient progress will need to be achieved before other clusters can be opened.

4. Predictability for both sides
   Defining more clearly the conditions for candidate countries. Providing them with clear incentives if key reforms successfully implemented – closer integration of the country with the European Union.

Clear incentives & more decisive measures sanctioning any serious or prolonged stagnation or even backsliding: from slowing down negotiations, to adjusting funding and withdrawing benefits of closer integration.

Question 15

How long does Accession usually take?

Answer 15

normally around 10 years

Question 16

How many candidate countries and which ones?

Answer 16

9 candidate countries

Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Serbia

Georgia
Türkiye

Moldova
Ukraine

Question 17

potential candidate

Answer 17

Kosovo

Question 18

Candidate country Ukraine

Answer 18

28.2.22 - Application
June 2022 - Granted candidate status
7 conditions to join
Nov 2023 - commission recommends opening negotiations
Dec 2023 - EU leaders decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and invited the Council to adopt the negotiation framework once the relevant steps set out in the Commission’s report of 8 November 2023 had been taken.
March 2024 - EU leaders invited the Council to swiftly adopt the draft negotiation framework
June 2024 - first intergovernmental conference with Ukraine

Question 19

Accession conference meetings

Answer 19

Accession negotiations, once opened, take place at an intergovernmental conference (also called an ‘accession conference’) between ministers and ambassadors of EU member states and the candidate country. The negotiations look at different policy fields (known as ‘chapters’) and can be held at either ministerial level or deputy level.

Question 20

6 Enlargement clusters

Answer 20

1. The fundamentals of the accession process
2. Internal Market
3. Competitiveness and inclusive growth
4. The green agenda and sutainable connectivity
5. Resources, agriculture and cohesion
6. External relations

Question 21

DG and Commissioner

Answer 21

DG NEAR - Directorate-General for Neighbourhood & Enlargement Negotiations

Commissioner OLIVÉR VÁRHELYI (Hungary)