"Financing the enlargement of the European Union: Opportunity or obstacle?"

O’Neil, Patrick. (1997) "Financing the enlargement of the European Union: Opportunity or obstacle?". In: UNSPECIFIED, Seattle, WA. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe has led to a profound shift in both European politics and the process of regional integration. East European states, once separated by political boundaries from the EU, now seek entry in order to gain access to markets, resources, and the prestige that membership entails. Not surprisingly, member states of the EU are much more wary, and the ongoing debate over integration--who should be let in, when, and in what manner--illustrates some of the fundamental divisions within the EU that currently exist. The major sources of debate regarding integration are discussed, and how expanded membership is likely to affect the EU in the future. While the differences in terms of economic development between Western and Eastern Europe are large and vary widely from state to state, this paper argues that postponing integration indefinitely runs the risk of undermining support in the East for the EU as a whole.

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