Magazine / Politics / EU-Enlargement / From the press | 01/02/2007

The last Expansion?

As of January 1, 2007 the European Union has 27 members. But Euro-scepticism is growing in the old member states.

Has the EU been at all able to cope with the last, huge phase of expansion in 2004? Might it be better to interrupt or halt the expansion process? Critical voices are arguing for time out to think, and are urging that the EU undertake institutional reforms before moving ahead. Quality instead of quantity, deepening instead of widening – those are the slogans of the day. But what about the countries of the Western Balkans, to whom accession was promised or held out as a possibility? All Europe has profited economically from the expansion, say those who favour its continuance. But an unlimited expansion seems politically impossible for now.

A positive view

Lietuvos Rytas - Lithuania | Wednesday, 4. October 2006

Europe's integration is a model for others

"Every time the EU takes on a new member the debate about where Europe's borders actually lie is rekindled," says Egidijus Vareikis about the accession ... » more

Financial Times - United Kingdom | Monday, 13. November 2006

EU enlargement's impact on economic growth

The British daily assesses the role of EU enlargement in Europe's economic growth. "The 2004 enlargement of the European Union has provided access to a ... » more

Pravda - Slovakia | Thursday, 20. April 2006

The future of the EU

In an interview with Michal Havran jr, former Polish foreign minister and member of the European Parliament Bronislaw Geremek says he endorses further EU enlargement: ... » more

A perspective for the western Balkans

Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland | Wednesday, 27. September 2006

The last European enlargement?

Cyrill Steiger welcomes the decision to allow these two – very different – countries to join the EU, and advises against freezing the enlargement process. ... » more

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany | Thursday, 29. December 2005

EU Prospects for the Balkans

"Despite all the pretty words, the Balkan States run the risk of ending up in a dangerous ghetto situation," observes Marie-Janine Calic, a historian specialising ... » more

A negative view

Le Monde - France | Monday, 29. May 2006

Paul Thibaud on the Europe of nations

"The answers to European issues must be national ones because Europe, for lack of a common political culture, does not for the time being provide ... » more

Magyar Lettre Internationale - Hungary | Sunday, 1. January 2006

Gabor Csordas on EU enlargement and cultural tradition

Gabor Csordas, one of Hungary's most influential publishers, says he's convinced the EU should not continue to expand "before the integration of its different social ... » more

Alternatives économiques - France | Friday, 17. March 2006

The European parliament proposes a freeze on enlargement

In an interview given before the vote by MEPs, Josep Borell, the president of the European parliament, expresses his opinion that the European project has ... » more

Le Point - France | Wednesday, 11. January 2006

Europe's Christian roots

"Europe sits atop a Christian base," the historian Élie Barnavi, Israel's former ambassador to France, asserts in an interview led by Elizabeth Lévy. "The substrata, ... » more

A call for more integration

Berliner Zeitung - Germany | Tuesday, 16. May 2006

EU grapples with enlargement

According to Frank Herold, it doesn't matter when Romania and Bulgaria join the EU, the important thing is that they do join. But what happens ... » more

Die Presse - Austria | Tuesday, 7. March 2006

The origins of Euroscepticism

Erich Reiter, expert for security policies at the ministry of defense, analyses the reasons for Euroscepticism. "The major mistake was that eastward expansion came far ... » more

Der Standard - Austria | Thursday, 9. November 2006

Enlargement and European identity

Michael Moravec describes the strategy paper presented by EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn on Wednesday as unclear and inconsistent: "Should we now conclude that ... » more

Hospodářské noviny - Czech Republic | Wednesday, 27. September 2006

The last European enlargement?

"What's good news for some can be bad news for others," writes Adam Cerny on the decision to allow Bulgaria and Romania to join the ... » more

Gradual membership

Die Welt - Germany | Thursday, 23. November 2006

Karin Bastian on the model of gradual EU membership

Negotiations between the EU and Turkey for Turkish EU membership have come to a standstill. Katrin Bastian, a Berlin-based political scientist, sees "gradual EU membership" ... » more

Die Welt - Germany | Thursday, 15. June 2006

The proposal for a two-speed Europe

In an interview with Hannelore Crolly und Christoph B. Schiltz, Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg, explains his views on the idea of a two-speed ... » more

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany | Friday, 17. March 2006

Putting the brakes on further EU enlargement

"The discussion about EU enlargement has landed where governments can do little to control it: with the concerned citizens of the EU," Martin Winter observes. ... » more

Further articles on the subject » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » EU Policy, » Europe
More from the press review on the subject » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » EU Policy, » Europe