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Influencing factors of enlargement to the East
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Treaty requirement for unanimity |
Once again the determinants concerning the interests and positions of the member states that we addressed at the beginning of Basic Course 5 for the analysis model are of decisive importance here. The Treaty requirement for unanimity and the approval of the EU parliament, as well as the requirement for referendums in the candidate countries. The result was negotiations and decision-making processes lasting for over a decade.
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Sectorial interests |
In addition to this is the way in which specific sectorial interests will be affected, or to put it more clearly: The way in which the member countries, which, until now, have greatly benefited from the transfer of funds within the scope of the agricultural and structural policy will be affected. And it for this reason that they have largely been against enlargement.
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National interests |
Then, of course, there are national interests, that is, the ability of member states to influence decisions, which have been reflected in issues such as the weighting of votes within the scope of the new Constitution.
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The ability of the EU system to make decisions |
And, lastly, the Union system as such, especially its institutional structure, its decision-making procedures and its capacity to make decisions.
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Expansion vs. deepening as a source of tension |
The consequences: The attempt to largely prevent the negative consequences of enlargement by drawing up a constitution. Which brings us to the last point, the tension that exists between enlargement and deepening.
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[Author: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schumann]
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