The processes of the EU enlargement

obligatory courses

This course aims to familiarize participants with issues related to future EU enlargements. The course covers an abbreviated analysis of previous enlargements and circumstances accompanying them. It then presents an analysis of the potential area of enlargement and presents the situation in the potential EU member states. Particular attention is devoted to the problems of enlargement and discussion of strategic issues for each of the countries (in relation to the energy sector, the possible migration, political stability, etc.).

The course starts with an introduction to the issues of EU enlargement, institutional issues and legal circumstances and factors accelerating and inhibiting this process. Then the issues of past experience resulting from enlargement of the EU are discussed, including the case of Poland. Further on, further possible directions of enlargement ae discussed. Presented will be the European Neighbourhood Policy, as an alternative project for the enlargement of the EU. Candidate and potential candidate states are presented in detail, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey as a future, "south" direction of extension. The enlargement criteria are bounced off the political, economic and social situation in these states. Then the potential conditions of the integration of the EU with some other states are discussed: Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia and Azerbaijan, as "eastern" direction of EU enlargement. The Polish role in the promotion of the eastern dimension of the future enlargement of the EU will be discussed as well.

An analysis of the preparations required form the EU will also be offered first and foremost in terms of its institutional and economic readiness, including the analysis of the labour market, the Schengen area, the monetary system.

Students should be able to analyse the internal situation of the EU members and well as the candidate states and understand factors associated with the processes of further EU enlargement.

Selections of topics covered:

1. The process of EU enlargement - the condition, criteria, institutional issues, factors promoting and impeding this process.

2. The previous enlargements - historical approach and problems associated.

3. The issue of enlargement of the EU to include Turkey.

4. Relations with the EU neighbours (European Neighbourhood Policy and relations with the Balkan countries).

5. Future enlargement of the EU – the Balkans.

6. Future EU enlargement – towards the East.

7. Analysis of selected cases, the today the EU candidate states.

8. Written assignment.

Student's workload:

classes - 15 h

preparation to the classes - 15 h

preparation to the exam - 30 h

total - 60 h

Kaplan, Robert D. (2010), Na wschód do Tatarii. Podróże po Bałkanach, Bliskim Wschodzie i Kaukazie, Wydawnictwo Czarne

Szymczyński, Tomasz R. (red.) (2009), „Negocjacje granic: od „UE-15” do „UE-27”: rozszerzenie wschodnie Unii Europejskiej: Grupa Helsińska”, Poznań: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Wydziału Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza.

Legucka, Agnieszka (2008), Polityka wschodnia Unii Europejskiej, Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Akademii Obrony Narodowej.

“Komunikat Komisji do Parlamentu Europejskiego, Rady, Europejskiego Komitetu Ekonomiczno-Społecznego i Komitetu Regionów. Strategia rozszerzenia UE”, Bruksela, 10.11.2015 r., COM(2015) 611 final.

R. Parkes, 2015, „Turkey’s refugee politics“,EUISS, Alert No. 44

E. Gross, 2014, „Unfinished business in the Balkans“, EUISS, Alert No. 47

E. Prifti (ed.), 2013, “The European future of the Western Balkans. Thessaloniki@10 (2003-2013)”, EUISS, Paris

„Serbia and Kosovo: The Path to Normalisation“, Internatioanl Crisis Groupe, Europe Report No. 223, February 2013.

J. Rupnik (ed.), 2011, “The Western Balkans and the EU: ‘the hour of Europe’”

EUISS, Chaillot Papers No. 126.

Á. de Vasconcelos, 2010, „The Western Balkans: the path to European integration”, ISS Seminar 19 May 2010.

At the completion of the course the student should achieve the following learning outcomes:

1. (knowledge) have knowledge of the circumstances and stages of enlargement of the European Union; present systematic knowledge about the candidates to the EU, as well as restrictions on international environment policy and enlargement of the Community.

2. (skills) to be able to describe the basic areas for further enlargement of the EU, to determine the conditions of economic and political integration of EU candidates; analyse institutional capacity for further enlargement, have the ability to critically assess the situation of internal political, economic and social situation in the EU candidate countries, as well as the conditions hampering the enlargement process within the Community.

3. (social skills) to be able to work in a team preparing an oral statement, lead substantive discussion in groups and be aware of learning throughout life.

Written examination.