The theme of EU enlargement will remain among the top priorities of the European Union in the coming months and years. In reflection of its importance to the future of Europe and its neighbours, TEPSA is coordinating a new edition of the European Council Experts’ Debrief focusing specifically on enlargement. Leading experts from across TEPSA’s pan-European network will reflect on this crucial topic. Once published, the Debrief will be available to read on this webpage. For further information, stay tuned on TEPSA’s channels!
The European Council Experts’ Debrief is prompted by a question formulate by TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos and Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili. For this edition, experts have been asked to reflect on the question: “With the EU’s decision taken last year to grant candidate status to Ukraine, Moldova and possibly Georgia, enlargement generally (including to the Western Balkans and, to a lesser degree, Türkiye) is firmly back on the EU agenda. This decision was based on geopolitical considerations, following Putin’s aggressive behaviour. Assuming that the political decision has been taken and that the EU will stay the course, the candidate countries must work hard to fulfil the accession criteria. However, we would like the experts to focus primarily on two issues concerning the EU itself. The first concerns the conduct of the negotiation process and possible innovations in this respect, including the creative use of a staged approach and transition periods and the question of whether the EU should adopt a step-by-step approach or an all-at-once approach. The second has to do with the absorption capacity of the EU. What will the EU look like as a political body with possibly 36 Member States? How should the EU adjust and reform its various policies (ranging from the CAP to the Single Market and the cohesion policy to security and defence), but also its budget and finances (the challenges facing the EU will require massive funds), and its governance and institutional set-up. How can it ensure the protection of the rule of law across an enlarged EU?”