The European Union (EU) is an integration project that experienced many changes and transformations in its history. The development of the EU from its establishment to the present day has been shaped around two main processes: deepening and enlargement. These two processes significantly affect the internal functioning of the EU and its role in international relations.
The deepening process has been the main goal since the establishment of the EU. This process means that the EU integrates domestic markets, expands common political areas, and strengthens its institutional structure. That aims for the EU to provide more economic and political cooperation between members. For example, the creation of the Eurozone, and the acceptance of the common currency Euro are the results of the deepening process. Additionally, it is seen that there are deepening efforts on common foreign policy and security policy. However, the deepening process has not always progressed smoothly. Especially, reasons such as sensitivities about sovereignty and contradiction of national interests caused declarations in some areas.
On the other hand, the expansion process means that AB integrates new countries by expanding its borders. The expansion process can be seen not only as the economic integration of the EU but also as an effort to extend European values and norms. Especially in the post-Cold War period, many countries from Eastern Europe and the Balkans entered the process of joining the EU. This process requires democratic reforms, economic transformation, and compliance with EU standards for candidate countries. However, the expansion process has also faced some challenges. Factors such as difficulties in the internal reform processes of candidate countries and the tendency of existing EU members to oppose expansion have influenced the process.
The crisis between Russia and Ukraine in Eastern Europe has led to a significant change in the European Union’s expansion and deepening policies. When Russia’s revisionist moves posed serious threats to regional security beyond Ukraine’s borders, the EU’s expansion process towards Eastern Europe became a more acceptable geopolitical strategy. The EU aimed to ensure the region’s security by including Eastern European countries in the expansion package. This is due to the inability to expand the scope of NATO’s collective defense umbrella and the EU’s efforts to remove Eastern Europe from the “grey zone” of Russian influence.
The importance the EU attaches to bilateral relations with Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia is based on various factors such as urgent needs for war, management of humanitarian and economic crises, and the formation of a coalition around Ukraine. In this process, the EU has demanded more reforms from Ukraine and Georgia.[1] The Union has adopted a more objective stance towards Moldova and focused on the country’s political actors’ relations with Russia.
The point where deepening and expansion is the most prominent is being involved in the Schengen area. Romania and Bulgaria have partly joined Europe’s travel zone without ID checks by taking a new step with the EU. Following years of negotiations to join the Schengen area, free access is now granted for travelers arriving by air or sea from both countries.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has described this change as “a major success for both countries,” referring to it as a “historic moment” for the Schengen area, the world’s largest free travel zone.[2] Siegfried Muresan, a Member of the European Parliament, stated, “This is an important first step that millions of travelers will benefit from annually. Bulgaria and Romania have been meeting all the criteria for joining the Schengen area for years.”[3]
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stated that this step which he calls “a deserved success” for the country will make it easier to travel to citizens and strengthen the economy. Bulgarian Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov said that he feels the same way too and the biggest reason of that topic is the support they gave to Europe about immigrants.
Except Schengen area, the EU also continues its negotiations to prepare for the expansion process. In 2022 Bosnia and Herzegovina gained the status of membership. EU Council President Charles Michel stated, “The European Council has decided to start accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia has its place in the European family.”[4] In the summit conclusions, leaders emphasized the importance of Bosnia continuing to take all relevant steps identified by the Commission, including making economic, judicial, and political reforms and effectively combating corruption and money laundering.
At the same time, in March the European Union and Sweden started negotiations again after the EU Council gave political directors authority to start negotiations to deepen the relationships between Brussels and Bern. The EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Sweden Confederation President Viola Amherd announced the beginning of the new dialogue.[5] In the new negotiations, unlike in the past, there was no provision for a single framework agreement; instead, it included an agreement regarding Switzerland’s participation in EU programs. The agreement aims to ensure equal competition for Swiss companies operating in the EU Single Market and to protect the rights of EU citizens to work in Switzerland.[6] The negotiations are aimed to be concluded in 2024.
Nowadays many internal and external struggles that the EU faces affect both deepening and expansion processes. Inside, factors such as sovereignty concerns, the migration crisis, economic inequalities, and political separation push the deepening process. Outside, global uncertainty, security threats, and economic fluctuations affect the expansion process. However, the EU needs to continue its deepening and expansion efforts to maintain regional stability and its mission to promote prosperity.
As a result, the deepening and expansion processes of the EU are the elements of European integration. While deepening advances integration by strengthening the inner workings of the EU and deepening the cooperation between the members; the expansion process, by expanding the EU’s influence, enhances the stability and prosperity of the continent. However, both processes face significant challenges, and overcoming these challenges will determine the EU’s future success.
[1] Denis Cenusa, “CENUSA: Geopolitics prevails in the EU accession agenda for Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova”, Intelli News, https://www.intellinews.com/cenusa-geopolitics-prevails-in-the-eu-accession-agenda-for-ukraine-georgia-and-moldova-319567/, (Date of Access: 03.04.2024).
[2] Stephen Mcgrath & Veselın Toshkov, “Romania and Bulgaria partially join Europe’s Schengen travel zone, but checks at land borders remain”, AP News, https://apnews.com/article/romania-bulgaria-schengen-eu-c8290cf515e6755f1fa57cf7be09abcb, (Date of Access: 03.04.2024).
[3] Ibid.
[4] ‘‘EU leaders agree to open membership negotiations with Bosnia’’, France 24, https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240321-eu-leaders-agree-to-open-membership-talks-with-bosnia, (Date of Access: 03.04.2024).
[5] Federico Baccini, “EU and Switzerland begin negotiations on a package of measures that will deepen bilateral relations”, EU News, https://www.eunews.it/en/2024/03/18/eu-and-switzerland-begin-negotiations-on-a-package-of-measures-that-will-deepen-bilateral-relations/, (Date of Access: 03.04.2024).
[6] Ibid.
