OBSTACLES TO EU ENLARGEMENT - THE CLASSICAL COMMUNITY METHOD AND THE PROSPECTS FOR A WIDER EUROPE

The probable expansion of the European Union (EU) to 25 or more Member States raises questions about the way in which the EC/EU has traditio nally managed the enlargement process and whether this is an appropria te framework for the future. This article argues that the four enlarge ment rounds to date have all conformed to the 'classical Community met hod', with an exclusive focus on the applicant's acceptance of the acq uis communautaire, and negotiations focusing solely on transition peri ods. In view of the number and heterogeneity of the potential applican ts in future rounds, the article examines the pressures likely to bear on the classical method and how it might be adapted.