Enlargement and the Future of Europe Views from the Capitals

This book analyses Member States’ and EU neighbours’ national visions for the enlargement of the European Union (EU), highlighting 41 national histories, policies, and corresponding public perceptions of European integration. In a geopolitical context in which Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has renewed the impetus for EU enlargement, national views vary considerably on the timing, conditions, and reforms necessary to welcome Eastern neighbours and the Western Balkans countries into the European family. Moreover, EU enlargement policy is not only an investment in peace and stability; it has also become a political tool in response to the exploitation of interdependencies and illiberal pressures. This book presents concrete policy recommendations to national governments and the EU on how to move forward productively.

1. Enlarging and reforming the European Union - An Austrian perspective
2. Belgium: If the enlargement process is broken, then fix it
3. Bulgaria's attitude towards EU enlargement
4. Croatia: Between proclaimed enthusiasm and reality on the ground
5. The national debate in Cyprus on the future of EU enlargement policy
6. The Czech Approach to EU Enlargement: Full Steam Ahead!
7. Denmark: Two or three recent shifts and the problem of favouring stability and security over democratisation
8. Estonia: definitely positive about enlargements
9. Finland and EU enlargement
10. What French infuriating reluctance reveals
11. Germany and EU enlargement (title TBC)
12. Greece, EU enlargement and the ‘ Thessaloniki promise‘
13. Enlargement at all costs? Hungarian visions for the political agenda of the EU towards the Eastern Neighborhood and the Western Balkans
14. Ireland and EU enlargement (title TBC)
15. Beyond ‘Enlargement Fatigue’– A View from Rome on the Future of Europe
16. Head and Heart in the Right Place: Latvia on the EU Enlargement
17. Lithuania’s strong support for EU’s "open door“ policy – how to cope with getting what you aimed for?
Luxembourg: Get ready to enlarge
18. Malta and Enlargement – Supportive but Not Engaged
19. Direction East – Polish views on EU’s Enlargement Policy
20. Portugal: Nobody talks about enlargement
21. Romania’s constant support for the enlargement process. A proof of investment in European values
22. Slovakia’s Approach to EU Enlargement: From Strategic Passivity to Declaratory Supporter
23. Slovenia: a Strong Defender of Western Balkan Enlargement
24. Spain: A country in favour of enlargement, but of low performance
25. Sweden and EU enlargement: A strong supporter walking a fine line
26. Strict, fair, engaged.... and still without a vision? A view from the Netherlands on EU enlargement, the western Balkans and the Eastern neighbourhood
27. What's holding back Albania?
28. Bosnia and EU enlargement (title TBC)
29. Seizing the EU Enlargement Momentum: Georgia’s Prospects for Joining the European Family
30. Iceland's passive supportive approach: Vocal with others on Ukraine
31. Kosovo's EU membership bid: a leap of faith
32. Liechtenstein and EU enlargement (title TBC)
33. How should EU support Moldova’s path towards accession?
The Scramble for re-Enlargement: Montenegro 
34. North Macedonia: Stuck at the doorstep of EU?
35. Norway and the enlargement of the EU
36. Serbia on a rocky road to the EU
37. Switzerland: not a candidate but a partner in EU enlargement
38. Schrödinger’s Candidate: Türkiye’s Awkward Situation within the Enlargement Debate
39. Oh the outside looking in: The UK after Brexit
40. Ukraine: Enlargement of the EU in the new realities: Challenges and prospect

Dr. Michael Kaeding is the Jean Monnet Professor for European Integration and European Union Politics at the Institute of Political Science of the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. He is a visiting fellow at the University of Ljubljana and of the European Institute of Public Administration in Maastricht, member of the flying faculties of the College of Europe, Bruges, and the Turkish-German University in Istanbul.

Dr. Johannes Pollak is a Professor of International Relations and Rector of Webster Vienna Private University, Austria. In the summer 2019, he was elected chairperson of the Board of the Institute of European Politics in Berlin. He is also senior fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna.

Paul Schmidt is the Secretary General of the Austrian Society for European Politics, which promotes and supports analysis and communication on European affairs. Prior to that he worked at the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, both in Vienna and at their Representative Office in Brussels at the Permanent Representation of Austria to the European Union.