Debate: Win-win Enlargement of the EU
Does a gradual and carefully managed EU enlargement process creates a win-win situation for all countries concerned?
In half a century time, the European Union has expanded tremendously. Today’s EU has become a union of 27 Member States representing a population of close to 500 million citizens!
Why would the EU encourage this enlargement?
- Because the EU becomes much safer, more prosperous and stronger.
- Because a bigger European Union is more influential than the original European Economic Community of 50 years ago and enlarges the EU economic market.
- Because people can travel and work freely in any member states.
- Because it means ‘more power’ at the International Level in EU policies.
The governments of the EU Member States, coming together in the European Council, have agreed to extend the EU to countries in South East Europe like Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo under UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and Turkey
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