{ "id": "RS21344", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "RS", "number": "RS21344", "active": true, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov, EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "summary": null, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=RS21344", "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "type": "CRS Report", "formats": [ { "sha1": "6b002f2419056939e100cc2ba0b9d4d64248d1bc", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RS/RS21344/28", "filename": "files/2021-08-16_RS21344_6b002f2419056939e100cc2ba0b9d4d64248d1bc.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2021-08-16_RS21344_6b002f2419056939e100cc2ba0b9d4d64248d1bc.html" } ], "title": "European Union Enlargement", "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "retrieved": "2021-10-13T04:04:57.700398", "date": "2021-08-16", "typeId": "RS", "id": "RS21344_28_2021-08-16", "active": true }, { "summary": null, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=RS21344", "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "type": "CRS Report", "formats": [ { "sha1": "2661405b6474391cc47c058ec37e2ced9f925150", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RS/RS21344/29", "filename": "files/2021-08-11_RS21344_2661405b6474391cc47c058ec37e2ced9f925150.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2021-08-11_RS21344_2661405b6474391cc47c058ec37e2ced9f925150.html" } ], "title": "European Union Enlargement", "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "retrieved": "2021-10-13T04:04:57.701026", "date": "2021-08-11", "typeId": "RS", "id": "RS21344_29_2021-08-11", "active": true }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 428269, "date": "2014-02-19", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T23:06:43.001941", "title": "European Union Enlargement", "summary": "The European Union (EU) has long viewed the enlargement process as an extraordinary opportunity to promote political stability and economic prosperity in Europe. Since 2004, EU membership has grown from 15 to 28 countries, bringing in most states of Central and Eastern Europe and fulfilling an historic pledge to further the integration of the continent by peaceful means. Croatia is the EU\u2019s newest member, acceding to the EU on July 1, 2013.\nAnalysts contend that the carefully managed process of enlargement is one of the EU\u2019s most powerful policy tools, and that, over the years, it has helped transform many European states into functioning democracies and more affluent countries. The EU maintains that the enlargement door remains open to any European country that fulfills the EU\u2019s political and economic criteria for membership. At the same time, EU enlargement is also very much a political process; most all significant steps on the long path to accession require the unanimous agreement of the existing 28 member states. As such, a prospective EU candidate\u2019s relationship or conflicts with individual member states may also influence a country\u2019s EU accession prospects and timeline.\nCurrently, five countries are recognized by the EU as official candidates for membership: Iceland, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey. All are at different stages of the accession process. While Montenegro and Serbia have only recently begun accession negotiations, Turkey\u2019s accession talks have been underway since 2005. Macedonia\u2019s accession negotiations have not yet started largely because of an ongoing dispute with Greece over the country\u2019s official name. And EU accession talks with Iceland, although relatively advanced, have been on hold since May 2013, when a new Icelandic government largely opposed to EU membership took office. The EU also considers the remaining Western Balkan states of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo as potential EU candidates, but most experts assess that it will likely be many years before any of these countries are ready to join the EU.\nDespite the EU\u2019s professed commitment to enlargement, some EU policy makers and many EU citizens are cautious about additional expansion, especially to Turkey or countries farther east, such as Georgia or Ukraine, in the longer term. Worries about continued EU enlargement range from fears of unwanted migrant labor to the implications of an ever-expanding Union on the EU\u2019s institutions, finances, and overall identity. Such qualms are particularly apparent towards Turkey, given its large size, predominantly Muslim culture, and comparatively less prosperous economy.\nSuccessive U.S. Administrations and many Members of Congress have long backed EU enlargement, believing that it serves U.S. interests by advancing democracy and economic prosperity throughout the European continent. Over the years, the only significant U.S. criticism of the EU\u2019s enlargement process has been that the Union was moving too slowly, especially with respect to Turkey. Some U.S. officials are concerned that \u201cenlargement fatigue\u201d as well as the EU\u2019s economic and financial troubles, which have hit the countries that use the EU\u2019s common currency (the euro) particularly hard, could potentially slow future rounds of EU enlargement.\nThe status of EU enlargement and its implications for both the EU itself and U.S.-EU relations may be of interest to the 113th Congress. For additional information, see also CRS Report RS21372, The European Union: Questions and Answers, by Kristin Archick; and CRS Report RS22517, European Union Enlargement: A Status Report on Turkey\u2019s Accession Negotiations, by Vincent L. Morelli.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RS21344", "sha1": "27ecb27433b67bd33e998cd966aed1ff49c2fbbd", "filename": "files/20140219_RS21344_27ecb27433b67bd33e998cd966aed1ff49c2fbbd.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RS21344", "sha1": "47a5ef633fbf19403de6d28136d2ccd4f2417dab", "filename": "files/20140219_RS21344_47a5ef633fbf19403de6d28136d2ccd4f2417dab.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc820843/", "id": "RS21344_2013Feb04", "date": "2013-02-04", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "European Union Enlargement", "summary": "This report discusses the evolution of the European Union and its process for enlargement. The EU has long viewed the enlargement process as an historic opportunity to further the integration of the continent by peaceful means.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20130204_RS21344_76fb41a767603c5094aa66309b482aba2ece196b.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20130204_RS21344_76fb41a767603c5094aa66309b482aba2ece196b.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Europe", "name": "Politics and government -- Europe" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84107/", "id": "RS21344_2012Apr04", "date": "2012-04-04", "retrieved": "2012-04-27T15:49:45", "title": "European Union Enlargement", "summary": "The European Union (EU) has long viewed the enlargement process as an extraordinary opportunity to promote political stability and economic prosperity in Europe. U.S. Administrations and many Members of Congress have long backed EU enlargement, believing that it serves U.S. interests by advancing democracy and economic prosperity throughout the European continent. Some U.S. officials are concerned that \"enlargement fatigue\" as well as the EU's ongoing financial crisis could hinder EU expansion. The status of EU enlargement and its implications for both the EU itself and U.S.-EU relations may be of interest to the second session of the 112th Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120404_RS21344_ed1d575451846f78c1b644a8ebfef75ac14f4320.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120404_RS21344_ed1d575451846f78c1b644a8ebfef75ac14f4320.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government", "name": "Politics and government" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- European Union", "name": "Politics and government -- European Union" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "International affairs", "name": "International affairs" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Regionalism (International organization)", "name": "Regionalism (International organization)" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Economic stabilization", "name": "Economic stabilization" }, { "source": "KWD", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc87370/", "id": "RS21344_2012Jan26", "date": "2012-01-26", "retrieved": "2012-07-03T07:51:21", "title": "European Union Enlargement", "summary": "This report discusses the status of European Union (EU) enlargement and its implications for both the EU itself and U.S.-EU relations. It includes a history of the European Union, the process of enlargement, overviews of current EU candidates, prospects for future enlargements, and U.S. perspectives.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120126_RS21344_505a520a6a80d2eec78eb2941119b47f8129dee7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120126_RS21344_505a520a6a80d2eec78eb2941119b47f8129dee7.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Europe", "name": "Europe" }, { "source": "KWD", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs10580/", "id": "RS21344_2008Jul03", "date": "2008-07-03", "retrieved": "2008-12-11T20:31:28", "title": "European Union Englargement", "summary": "The European Union (EU) views the enlargement process as a historic opportunity to promote stability and prosperity in Europe. Although the EU maintains that the enlargement door remains open, \"enlargement fatigue\" has become a serious issue in Europe and some experts believe that EU enlargement may be reaching its limits. The status of EU enlargement is one of many transatlantic issues likely to be of interest to the second session of the 110th Congress. This report lists the various nations admitted to the European Union within the past several years and analyzes the enlargement issue in general.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080703_RS21344_8e16214d00bdbd5b7232aa712daa896cc444b981.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080703_RS21344_8e16214d00bdbd5b7232aa712daa896cc444b981.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government", "name": "Politics and government" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government - European Union", "name": "Politics and government - European Union" }, { "source": "KWD", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc810585/", "id": "RS21344_2006Oct25", "date": "2006-10-25", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "European Union Enlargement", "summary": "This report discusses the EU's enlargement process, which it views as a historic opportunity to promote\r\nstability and prosperity in Europe. On May 1, 2004, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the European Union (EU), enlarging the Union to 25 members.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20061025_RS21344_d3136e4223a16531d3fd5fdf823a52936db1b4cc.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20061025_RS21344_d3136e4223a16531d3fd5fdf823a52936db1b4cc.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Europe", "name": "Politics and government -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc808712/", "id": "RS21344_2006Apr06", "date": "2006-04-06", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "European Union Enlargement", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20060406_RS21344_079236b94ea93dce9585ff37e8d299499761bee4.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20060406_RS21344_079236b94ea93dce9585ff37e8d299499761bee4.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs8216/", "id": "RS21344_2005Dec27", "date": "2005-12-27", "retrieved": "2006-02-24T12:10:49", "title": "European Union Enlargement", "summary": "On May 1, 2004, 10 states joined the European Union (EU), enlarging the Union to 25 members. The EU views the enlargement process as an historic opportunity to promote stability in Europe and further the integration of the continent by peaceful means. In addition to the 10 new members (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia), three other states \u2014 Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia \u2014 hope to accede to the EU by 2007. Turkey is also a candidate and is expected to begin accession negotiations in 2005. Macedonia has also applied for EU membership.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20051227_RS21344_7af00d87bb22de124f83b87cec3b479c141f3880.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20051227_RS21344_7af00d87bb22de124f83b87cec3b479c141f3880.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Europe", "name": "Politics and government -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs7212/", "id": "RS21344_2005Jun10", "date": "2005-06-10", "retrieved": "2005-09-20T11:04:46", "title": "European Union Enlargement", "summary": "On May 1, 2004, 10 states joined the European Union (EU), enlarging the Union to 25 members. The EU views the enlargement process as an historic opportunity to promote stability in Europe and further the integration of the continent by peaceful means. In addition to the 10 new members (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia), three other states \u2014 Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia \u2014 hope to accede to the EU by 2007. Turkey is also a candidate and is expected to begin accession negotiations in 2005. Macedonia has also applied for EU membership.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20050610_RS21344_fcf53060ef1b7de6e16758f7cfdbb0d06689e564.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20050610_RS21344_fcf53060ef1b7de6e16758f7cfdbb0d06689e564.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Europe", "name": "Politics and government -- Europe" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs7211/", "id": "RS21344_2005May02", "date": "2005-05-02", "retrieved": "2005-09-20T11:04:33", "title": "European Union Enlargement", "summary": "On May 1, 2004, 10 states joined the European Union (EU), enlarging the Union to 25 members. The EU views the enlargement process as an historic opportunity to promote stability in Europe and further the integration of the continent by peaceful means. In addition to the 10 new members (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia), three other states \u2014 Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia \u2014 hope to accede to the EU by 2007. Turkey is also a candidate and is expected to begin accession negotiations in 2005. Macedonia has also applied for EU membership.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20050502_RS21344_15aef13f61922fcf6270826cd755f43452048b80.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20050502_RS21344_15aef13f61922fcf6270826cd755f43452048b80.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Europe", "name": "Politics and government -- Europe" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs7213/", "id": "RS21344_2005Mar07", "date": "2005-03-07", "retrieved": "2005-09-20T11:04:58", "title": "European Union Enlargement", "summary": "On May 1, 2004, 10 states joined the European Union (EU), enlarging the Union to 25 members. The EU views the enlargement process as an historic opportunity to promote stability in Europe and further the integration of the continent by peaceful means. In addition to the 10 new members (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia), three other states \u2014 Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia \u2014 hope to accede to the EU by 2007. Turkey is also a candidate and is expected to begin accession negotiations in 2005. Macedonia has also applied for EU membership.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20050307_RS21344_0c1c87e61f45d7807b2eacdf650cbccd461869c2.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20050307_RS21344_0c1c87e61f45d7807b2eacdf650cbccd461869c2.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Europe", "name": "Politics and government -- Europe" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs8436/", "id": "RS21344_2004Dec22", "date": "2004-12-22", "retrieved": "2006-03-20T10:04:45", "title": "European Union Enlargement", "summary": "On May 1, 2004, 10 states joined the European Union (EU), enlarging the Union to 25 members. The EU views the enlargement process as an historic opportunity to promote stability in Europe and further the integration of the continent by peaceful means. In addition to the 10 new members (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia), three other states \u2014 Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia \u2014 hope to accede to the EU by 2007. Turkey is also a candidate and is expected to begin accession negotiations in 2005. Macedonia has also applied for EU membership.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20041222_RS21344_b0d72f68f8512a60f171feee59538c6aa58aa629.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20041222_RS21344_b0d72f68f8512a60f171feee59538c6aa58aa629.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "European Union", "name": "European Union" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Europe" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Europe -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Europe", "name": "Politics and government -- Europe" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Economic Policy", "European Affairs", "Foreign Affairs" ] }