The geopolitics of EU enlargement and democracy

Abstract

The current Commission of the European Union has declared itself to be geopolitical. The Enlargement of the EU has been heralded as one of its greatest achievements to date. The credibility of the European project hinges among other on its ability to integrate countries aspiring to join and meeting the requisite criteria. Fatigue on enlargement has settled in in certain member states of the EU. The old debate between deepening, strengthening of EU institutions and widening the club of member states has resurfaced as domestic politics drive approaches to fundamental EU issues. The democratic regression in a number of member states has fueled the skepticism in parts of European public opinion as to the prudence of taking in new members. How detrimental is the democratic challenge to the enlargement of the EU? Can it lead to instability in the inner courtyard of Europe that is e.g. the area of Western Balkans, and also to the geopolitical influence of “third party actors” such as Russia, China and Turkey, and thus to security challenges for the EU?