ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

The Founding Members European Coal and Steel Community  Proposed by Schuman for peace in 1950  Formally established in 1951 by Treaty of Paris  France, W. Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Italy Went on to sign Treaties of Rome  ECSC  EURATOM  EEC

Came to be known as EC  International organisations governed by same set of institutions UK changed policy on joining on EC  Issued for accession in 1961  Due to Suez crisis  “Non” to the UK accession by French President de Gaulle Due to fear of US influence

First Enlargement Accession of UK, Denmark, Ireland, Norway UK  French President de Gaulle no longer in office so UK no longer has barriers for entry  Colonies – the question of Gibraltar Norway  Question put to referendum – rejected  Still adopts policies – Schengen, Europol etc  Contributes to budget, member of EEA

1981 and 1986 Mediterranean Enlargements  Democracy returns to Greece, Spain and Portugal  Greece joins in 1981  Spain and Portugal in 1986  1985 – Greenland leaves the EC  1987 – Turkey and Morocco apply  Morocco not seen as European  Turkey’s accepted, only received candidate status in 2000, negotiations started in 2004

With the accession of the countries in 1981 and 1986:  Population increased by 10%  The area of the EU members increased by 20%  The total GDP of the member states increased by 6.8%  But the GDP per capita fell by 3.42% 1981 and 1986 Mediterranean Enlargements

Fourth Enlargement - EU-15 Prior to enlargement of 1995, East+West Germany reunified in 1990  East Germany part of EC, under “Germany” EC becomes EU in Maastricht Accession of Austria, Finland, Sweden Copenhagen criteria established due to candidacy of numerous post-communist countries  Democracy / free market / adoption of EU Law

With the accession of the countries in 1995:  Population increased by 6%  The area of the EU members increased by 35%  The total GDP of the member states increased by 6.5%  For the first and only time in any enlargement of the EC/EU, the GDP per capita increased, by 0.20% Fourth Enlargement - EU-15

2004: The Big Bang In 2004, 10 Eastern, mostly post communist, countries joined the EU  Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Luthuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.  Less developed states were fear of Western, more developed members Restrictions of certain members on travel/working rights of eastern people in their countries Denmark, Finland, Austria

The Fifth Enlargement  With the accession of the countries in 2004:  Population increased by 20%, largest single expansion in terms of number of people  The area of the EU members increased by 18%, largest single increase in terms of km2  The total GDP of the member states increased only by 8.8%  It was the largest fall of GDP per capita in any enlargement. The accession of the less developed Eastern countries caused a 9% fall in GDP per capita

Sixth Enlargement  The accession of Bulgaria and Romania  Were supposed to join in 2004  Romania  Government and judiciary reforms not completed  Bulgaria  More efforts needed in fight against corruption, human trafficking and reforming judicial sector

Sixth Enlargement With the accession of the countries in 2007:  Population increased by 6.5%  The area of the EU members increased by 8.5%  The total GDP of the member states increased by 2%  GDP per capita fell by 4%

2013: Croatia After Slovenia, Croatia is the second country from ex-Yugoslavia to join the EU. The European perspective remains open to the entire Western Balkans region.