The European Union and Central and Eastern Europe: The implications of enlargement in stages

Ten Central and East European countries applied for EU membership between 1994 and 1996. All ten signed association ‘Europe’ agreements with the EU and all were participants in the EU’s pre-accession strategy to help them prepare for eventual membership. Enlargement was conditional on the applicant state meeting certain political and economic conditions set out at the 1992 Copenhagen European Council. These included three political criteria: stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities; adherence to the objective of political union; and maintaining the momentum of integration. The economic criteria are similarly divided into three: the existence of a functioning market economy; capacity to cope with competitive pressures and market forces within the EU; and adherence to the aim of economic and monetary union. There was much debate on the appropriate speed of the enlargement process. It was evident that not all applicant countries would meet the conditions at the same time. It was therefore assumed that enlargement would take place in ‘waves’, with some countries proceeding faster than others. The book aims at addressing the question of how, when, and with whom enlargement should proceed. This involves identifying criteria to be used, which could help in deciding whether countries are ready to join. The book assesses the consequences of enlargement in stages for the EU budget, trade, agricultural trade, firms in countries left out of the enlargement process, foreign direct investment, growth, the location of industry, labour markets and foreign relations. Karen E. Smith was responsible for the Political Science content of the book, and Susan Senior Nello for the Economics.