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EU Enlargement

The EU's enlargement policy uses the prospect of EU membership to promote regional stability, prosperity, and liberal democracy in neighboring countries. The main criteria for EU membership are stable institutions, a functioning market economy, and the ability to take on obligations of membership such as adopting the euro. Turkey began accession talks in 2005 but progress has stalled due to concerns over democratic backsliding and the dispute over Cyprus. The Western Balkans are seen as the current focus for potential enlargement.

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77 views29 pages

EU Enlargement

The EU's enlargement policy uses the prospect of EU membership to promote regional stability, prosperity, and liberal democracy in neighboring countries. The main criteria for EU membership are stable institutions, a functioning market economy, and the ability to take on obligations of membership such as adopting the euro. Turkey began accession talks in 2005 but progress has stalled due to concerns over democratic backsliding and the dispute over Cyprus. The Western Balkans are seen as the current focus for potential enlargement.

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Lucas
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© © All Rights Reserved
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ENLARGEMENT POLICY

Enlargement Policy
• the most powerful instrument at the EU’s disposal is the
perspective of EU membership for other countries.
– ‘outsiders’ have a desire to get into the EU.
• “In Central and Eastern Europe, the prospect of
enlargement
– has probably made a huge contribution to regional stability,
prosperity and the progress of liberal democracy” (Maull, 2005, p.
782).
• Enlargement policy: perfect example of the success of
civilian power
– civilian tools such as trade, aid and development,.
• the instrument of enlargement is naturally limited
– by geographical, institutional and perhaps even cultural reasons.
• it is not usable in the Southern Neighbourhood region
• Only in certain countries of UfM (Western Balkans, Turkey)
European Neighbourhood Policy –
Union for the Mediterranean
European Neighbourhood
Policy
• After 2004 enlargement
– a new framework was launched in 2004 by
the EU to create a ‘ring of friends’
– and to avoid new ‘dividing lines’.
• It does not include countries with EU
accession prospect:
- Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia,
Azerbaijan
- Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestinian Authority,
Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/western-balkans-
enlargement_en.pdf
Steps towards joining EU
Process

1 • Application for membership


2 • Initial evaluation of the applicant country
3 • Granting a status of the candidate country
4 • Opening of negotiations
5 • Negotiations (and screening)
6 • Accession treaty
7 • Ratification
8 • Acceding country becomes EU member state
Process of the accession
1. All Western Balkans countries have an EU accession
perspective.
– they benefit from substantial EU assistance,
– Stabilisation and Association Agreements provid far-reaching access
to the internal market, and detailed policy advice.
2. When a country fulfils basic political, economic and reform
criteria,
– it becomes an official candidate for membership
3. The candidate then moves on to formal membership
negotiations.
– They cover 35 chapters, across all policy areas, to ensure that
candidates are fully prepared to become members.
4. When negotiations and accompanying reforms have been
completed to the satisfaction of both sides,
– an Accession Treaty is finalised and ratified and the country joins the
EU.
ENLARGEMENT
• The Treaty on the European Union
(Article 49) states that:
– any European country may apply for
membership if it respects the democratic values
of the EU and is committed to promoting them.
– The EU also needs to be able to integrate new
members Countries wishing to join the
European Union
• Article 2 TEU describes the EU’s founding
values.
From 6 to 28 members
Enlargement

1952 1973 1981 1986

1990 1995 2004 2007 2013


Article 2 TEU

• The Union is founded on the values of


respect for human dignity, freedom,
democracy, equality, the rule of law and
respect for human rights, including the
rights of persons belonging to minorities.
• These values are common to the Member
States in a society in which pluralism, non-
discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity
and equality between women and men
prevail
ENLARGEMENT CRITERIA
These countries must have:
‣ stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of
law, human rights and respect for and protection of
minorities;

‣ a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope


with competition and market forces in the EU;

‣ ability to assume the obligations of membership, including


adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary
union.
2018 strategy: A credible enlargement perspective
for and enhanced EU engagement with the
Western
Balkans
• „The Western Balkans are part of Europe, geographically
surrounded by EU Member States. The peoples of the EU and the
region have a common heritage and history and a future defined by
shared opportunities and challenges. The EU has long been
strongly engaged in the region. From the Thessaloniki European
Council in 2003, it has supported the future of the region as an
integral part of the EU.”
• „This firm, merit-based prospect of EU membership for the Western
Balkans is in the Union's very own political, security and economic
interest. It is a geostrategic investment in a stable, strong and united
Europe based on common values. It is a powerful tool to promote
democracy, the rule of law and the respect for fundamental rights. A
credible accession perspective is the key driver of transformation in
the region and thus enhances our collective integration, security,
prosperity and social well-being. It remains essential for fostering
reconciliation and stability”
• http://www.dw.com/en/eu-announces-
ambitious-expansion-plans-in-western-
balkans/a-42473497
• https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/e
u-enlargement-strategy-western-balkans-
debate_I150519-V_v
2018 strategy: A credible enlargement perspective
for and enhanced EU engagement with the
Western
Balkans
• „our Union must be stronger and more solid, before it
can be bigger”
• „By that date, the EU could become larger than 27
Members. Accession negotiations are already well
underway with Montenegro and Serbia. With strong
political will, the delivery of real and sustained reforms,
and definitive solutions to disputes with neighbours, they
could potentially be ready for membership in a 2025
perspective. This perspective is extremely ambitious.
Whether it is achieved will depend fully on the objective
merits and results of each country”
Turkey’s EU Accession Process
Background
• 1959 – Turkey applied for associate
membership of the European Economic
Community
• 1963 – Turkey signed an association agreement
with EEC (first step to membership)
• 1987 – Turkey applied for accession to the EU
– presents its formal application for membership
• 1996 – Customs Union started and completed in
2001
• 1999 – Turkey became a candidate country
• 2005 – Start of official negotiations with Turkey
Negotiations with Turkey
35 Chapters of the acquis
• Chapter 1: Free movement of goods
• Chapter 2: Freedom of movement for workers
• Chapter 3: Right of establishment and freedom to provide
services
• Chapter 4: Free movement of capital
• Chapter 5: Public procurement
• Chapter 6: Company law
• Chapter 7: Intellectual property law
• Chapter 8: Competition policy
• Chapter 9: Financial services
• Chapter 10: Information society and media
• Chapter 11: Agriculture and rural development
• Chapter 12: Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy
• Chapter 13: Fisheries
35 Chapters of the acquis
• Chapter 14: Transport policy
• Chapter 15: Energy
• Chapter 16: Taxation
• Chapter 17: Economic and monetary policy
• Chapter 18: Statistics
• Chapter 19: Social policy and employment
• Chapter 20: Enterprise and industrial policy
• Chapter 21: Trans-European networks
• Chapter 22: Regional policy and coordination of structural
instruments
• Chapter 23: Judiciary and fundamental rights
• Chapter 24: Justice, freedom and security
• Chapter 25: Science and research
35 Chapters of the acquis

• Chapter 26: Education and culture


• Chapter 27: Environment
• Chapter 28: Consumer and health protection
• Chapter 29: Customs union
• Chapter 30: External relations
• Chapter 31: Foreign, security and defence policy
• Chapter 32: Financial control
• Chapter 33: Financial and budgetary provisions
• Chapter 34 - Institutions
• Chapter 35 - Other issues
Pro and Cons
• Accession of Turkey to the EU
EC: Turkey 2016 Report
Enlargement criteria
• political criteria:
– several key pieces of legislation adopted regarding the rule
of law and fundamental rights were not in line with
European standards, such as the law on data protection.
– There has been serious backsliding in the past year in the
area of freedom of expression
– Civil society remained active and involved in public life
under difficult circumstances
• the economic criteria,
– the Turkish economy is well advanced and can be
considered a functioning market economy.
• ability to assume the obligations of membership,
– Turkey has continued to align with the acquis
• https://www.europarltv.europa.eu/program
me/eu-affairs/turkey-s-accession-talks-in-
focus

• https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/867
959/eu-european-union-turkey-
membership-poland-juncker
Cyprus
• Cyprus as a whole is one of the 27
European Union Member States.
– the ‘acquis communautaire’ has been
suspended in the part of the country which is
not controlled by the government of the
Republic of Cyprus.
EC: Turkey 2018 Report
Enlargement criteria
• political criteria:
– Turkey is moderately prepared in the area of public administration
reform
– Turkey's judicial system is at an early stage of preparation. There
has been further serious backsliding in the past year, in particular
with regard to the independence of the judiciary.
– The Turkish legal framework includes general guarantees of respect
for human and fundamental rights, which have however been
further challenged and undermined by a number of emergency
decrees.
– The serious backsliding on the freedom of expression continued,
an area where Turkey is at an early stage of preparation.
– The country has some level of preparation in the fight against
corruption, where no progress has been achieved
EC: Turkey 2018 Report
Enlargement criteria
• Economic criteria
– The Turkish economy is well advanced and
can be considered a functioning market
economy.
– The economy supported by government
stimulus measures, managed to recover from
the contraction witnessed in the wake of the
attempted coup of 2016 and achieved strong
growth in 2017.
– However, high growth is coupled with
significant macroeconomic imbalances.
EC: Turkey 2018 Report
Enlargement criteria
• ability to assume the obligations of membership,
– Turkey has continued to align with the acquis
– There have been more instances of backsliding
regarding a number of key aspects in the areas of
information society, social policy and employment and
external relations.
– Turkey is well advanced in the areas of company law,
trans-European networks and science and research and
it has achieved a good level of preparation in the areas of
free movement of goods, intellectual property law,
financial services, enterprise and industrial policy,
consumer and health protection, customs union and
financial control
Sofa-Gate
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OEm
_gUi8gY
• https://www.consilium.europa.eu/policies/e
nlargement/turkey.aspx/

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