The evolution of the European Union enlargement policy : a historical approach to the Copenhagen criteria

Abstract

Twenty-two countries have been involved in the process of accession to the European Union since the founding of the Coal and Steel Community in 1951. It was not until 1993, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, that the criteria and process to be followed by the candidate countries for accession were formally established, with the aim of preparing the entity for its further territorial expansion. At the same time, the concept of the EU as a western European league was put to an end to give a new meaning to the word “European”. Thirty years later, this paper provides a historical contextualization of the European Union’s enlargement policy and assesses the evolution of the Copenhagen criteria through the successive enlargement processes. In addition, the study warns about the implications of setting double standards for Member States and candidate countries, and the importance of a balance between widening and deepening policies for the success of the European project.