Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0

Author-Name: Peter Gottfried
Author-Workplace-Name: Magyar Nemzeti Bank
Author-Email: gottfriedp@mnb.hu
Author-Person:  

Title: Is the Next EU Enlargement Taking Shape?

Abstract: When considering the next enlargement of the European Union, the political and
economic situation in the world which provides the framework of possibilities and
challenges is rarely examined. This paper argues that it is of vital importance for the
future of the European Union as a whole that future enlargement or enlargements
strengthen the EU only in case of full membership, i.e. if future membership is based
on the full scope of rights and obligations. While the gradual application of certain
rights and obligations may be justified in the pre-accession phase, this may only
apply to the pre-accession phase itself and may not lead to differentiated categories
of membership. It is vital that the achievements of EU integration, in particular the
integrity of the internal market, must not be endangered. The earlier enlargement
paradigm according to which each enlargement must be accompanied by further
deepening of integration should be reconsidered. Instead, the more frequent use
of existing instruments of flexibility and possible extension of their scope should be
considered.

Classification-JEL:
Keywords:
Pages: 156-169
Volume: 23
Issue: 2
Year: 2024
File-URL: https://en-hitelintezetiszemle.mnb.hu/letoltes/fer-23-2-fa1-gottfried.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:mnb:finrev:v:23:y:2024:i:2:p:156-169