Chapter 18 Answer guidance

Q2) How similar are the different rounds of enlargement?

See section 18.2

• The five rounds of enlargement have been different in terms of
• The political and economic interests informing the enlargement
• The nature of the acceding countries
• The effects on the Union and the member states
• Northern enlargement (1973)
• Increased the diversity of national preferences of EEC given Eurosceptic nature of Denmark and the UK
• Displaced bargaining influence of France and Germany with entry of the UK
• Mediterranean enlargement (1981 and 1986)
• Political and symbolic significance in terms of securing democracy
• Financial effect given that all acceding countries were net beneficiaries
• EFTA enlargement (1995)
• Easy enlargement as all wealthy and established democracies, and net contributors to EU Budget
• Influenced formation of coalitions in EU Council
• Eastern enlargement
• Most complex given number and diversity of the acceding countries
• Strong symbolic dimension, as well as economic and political interests
• Concern from Greece and Spain regarding loss of financial support
• Required institutional and policy reform in the EU
• Balkan enlargement (2013–2015)
• Balkans more unstable area
• Eurosceptic feeling and aftermath of financial crisis result in ‘enlargement fatigue’.
• The enlargement process has become more asymmetrical, more politicized, more technical.