The European Union Expansion

How much expansion can the EU withstand?

THE EUROPEAN THE EUROPEAN UNIONUNION

For years the European states have been cooperating in what was called the European Community. It originally consisted of six member states:

France West GermanyBelgium NetherlandsLuxembourg Italy

However, in 1992 the EU was officially established and the institution had grown over the years, adding a total of six new members:

Denmark PortugalGreece SpainIreland United Kingdom

From the start the EU embraced economic, political, and social principles for cooperation as its primary interests. As years have passed and more members have joined the EU, the scope of issues which the EU has become involved with has also grown.

Copenhagen Criteria: set Copenhagen Criteria: set of rules that dictate whether of rules that dictate whether nation is eligible to join the nation is eligible to join the EUEU These criteria are: that aThese criteria are: that a

nation-state must have nation-state must have institutions that promote institutions that promote and retain democraticand retain democraticgovernment, human government, human rights, a functioning market rights, a functioning market economy, and submit to theeconomy, and submit to theintentions and obligations intentions and obligations of the EU. of the EU.

The European Union

For your visual pleasure, here is a map of the countries in the European Union.

APPROACHING THE EUAPPROACHING THE EUVarious levels of analysisVarious levels of analysis

2nd ImageLiberalism

3rd Image

Realism

Neo-Liberal Institutionalism

Can’t they all just get along??

Considering the ImagesConsidering the Images

22NDND Image Image Focuses on Focuses on

domestic societal domestic societal factors (economic factors (economic and political)and political)

Shows why Turkey Shows why Turkey is unlikely to be is unlikely to be accepted to the EU accepted to the EU (human rights (human rights abuses)abuses)

33RDRD Image Image Addresses the Addresses the

International relations International relations of the EU. Which is an of the EU. Which is an essential part of essential part of Structural Realism Structural Realism

It explains why the EU It explains why the EU is reluctant to is reluctant to continue to expand. continue to expand.

Turkey:

Applied for full membership:1987Confirmed as candidate: December 1999Negotiations: October 2005

Facts about the Turkey to the left of this text not about the one below this text….

Population: 73.3 million Capital: Ankara

Major Religion: Islam Major Language: Turkish

Main Exports: Fruit and vegetables, textiles and clothing, iron and steel

ONLY 11% OF AUSTRIANS FAVOR TURKEY’S FULL MEMBERSHIPINTO THE EUROPEAN UNION

“I do not want to join the EU, it’s a Christian club!”YavuzIstanbul newsagent

About 98% of the population is Sunni Muslim.

Could innate and intrinsic social factors hinder France from acceptingTurkey?

The median age in Turkey is 28 years old.

“Admitting Turkey now would be like Mexico becoming the 51st state of the U.S. overnight.”-Brussels diplomat

Why has EU expansion happened? (SUPPORTERS OF EU EXPANSION SAY…)

- It has peacefully united a part of the world that has been plagued with conflict for generations.

-EU expansion has made Europe a safer place.

-Expansion will boost the economy in Europe and help create jobs.

-It increases foreign investment in Europe.

Questions:Questions:

Should the EU expand? What are the implications?

In your opinion, should the EU accept Turkey as a full member into the EU?How would partial membership differ from full membership?

Does the EU have a strong future? Will the expansion of the EU increase the likelihood for a strong EU in the future?