Routledge European Union Enlargement - Political Science Book

Explore the complex evolution of the European Union through this academic study from the Routledge Advances in European Politics series. This book examines how the continuous expansion of the EU has changed its self-conception and identity. While the Eastern enlargement was viewed as a reunification of Europe, the increasing number of applicants and their varying levels of economic development forced the union to adjust its core image. By looking at the European Council's decisions regarding Mediterranean and Central and Eastern European countries during the 1970s and 1990s, this work investigates the drivers behind EU enlargement. It analyzes the tension between material interests, community norms, and the challenges of transforming new states to meet EU values. This text provides a deep look into why the union expands and how it manages the requirements of new member states.