The Procedure and Institutions of Enlargement

The procedural and institutional framework of accession to the European Union (EU) is a key aspect for understanding the processes of EU integration. The main aim of this study is to describe and evaluate the development of institutions established by the EU for the purposes of enlargement during different enlargement ‘waves’ and the extent to which prospective states were involved in the functioning of EU institutions before they officially joined the EU. To examine the details of the procedure and institutions of accession, it is crucial to understand each enlargement ‘wave’ and its consequences. In this study, the procedure and institutions of accession are analysed, with a specific focus on different stages of accession, mainly on the ‘big/ eastern enlargement’. It addresses the following research questions: What trends can be observed regarding the EU accession process? What institutions were set up for the purposes of enlargement at the EU level? What procedures at the EU level were in place to monitor the fulfilment of the accession criteria? Further, to what extent were selected states involved in the work of EU institutions before they officially joined the EU?