Research Article

An Analytical Examination of Economic, Social and Political Indexes of Candidate Countries to the EU: A Comparative Study

Number: 18 January 31, 2026
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An Analytical Examination of Economic, Social and Political Indexes of Candidate Countries to the EU: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This paper explores major political and socio-economic indicators of the countries candidate to the European Union (EU) membership. The aim of the study is to expose which countries are ahead or behind others and in which areas countries are better or worse ranked. The study uses a quantitative research method based on the collection and assessment of figures and statistics in significant economic, social and political areas and assesses these data in respect to EU’s Copenhagen and Maastricht Criteria. Additionally, the study further evaluates these countries’ international indexes to expose a comprehensive analysis and sheds light to where countries need to progress to reach higher scores and provides them a roadmap to improve their socio-economic and political results. Thus, the study mixes quantitative and comparative methods to evaluate the socio-political and economic indexing of the ten countries, discusses the findings from the EU membership perspective and provides them policy recommendations.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

In this research article, ethics committee permission was not required as the data were not obtained using survey or interview techniques.

References

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  4. Energy Institute. (2025). Statistical Review of World Energy. https://www.energyinst.org/statistical-review/resources-and-data-downloads
  5. Erdoğan, O. (2025). Local Governments’ Cultural Policies, İmgelem, 17, 299-326. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1789022
  6. European Commission. (2025). Economy and Finance: Convergence Criteria for Joining. https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/euro/enlargement-euro-area/convergence-criteria-joining_en#the-four-convergence-criteria
  7. European Parliament. (2025). Copenhagen European Council - 21-22 June 1993 Presidency Conclusions. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/enlargement/ec/cop_en.htm
  8. Huber, P., Brücker, H., Köllö, J., Traistaru, J., & Mickiewicz, T. (2002). Regional and Labour Market Development in Candidate Countries: A Literature Survey, The European Union Fifth Framework Programme, Work Package No:1, 1-90

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

European and Region Studies, European Union-Turkiye Relations, European Studies

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

January 31, 2026

Submission Date

December 20, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 24, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 18

APA
Sülün, D. (2026). An Analytical Examination of Economic, Social and Political Indexes of Candidate Countries to the EU: A Comparative Study. İmgelem, 18, 211-238. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1846107
AMA
1.Sülün D. An Analytical Examination of Economic, Social and Political Indexes of Candidate Countries to the EU: A Comparative Study. İMGELEM. 2026;(18):211-238. doi:10.53791/imgelem.1846107
Chicago
Sülün, Dilara. 2026. “An Analytical Examination of Economic, Social and Political Indexes of Candidate Countries to the EU: A Comparative Study”. İmgelem, nos. 18: 211-38. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1846107.
EndNote
Sülün D (January 1, 2026) An Analytical Examination of Economic, Social and Political Indexes of Candidate Countries to the EU: A Comparative Study. İmgelem 18 211–238.
IEEE
[1]D. Sülün, “An Analytical Examination of Economic, Social and Political Indexes of Candidate Countries to the EU: A Comparative Study”, İMGELEM, no. 18, pp. 211–238, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.53791/imgelem.1846107.
ISNAD
Sülün, Dilara. “An Analytical Examination of Economic, Social and Political Indexes of Candidate Countries to the EU: A Comparative Study”. İmgelem. 18 (January 1, 2026): 211-238. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1846107.
JAMA
1.Sülün D. An Analytical Examination of Economic, Social and Political Indexes of Candidate Countries to the EU: A Comparative Study. İMGELEM. 2026;:211–238.
MLA
Sülün, Dilara. “An Analytical Examination of Economic, Social and Political Indexes of Candidate Countries to the EU: A Comparative Study”. İmgelem, no. 18, Jan. 2026, pp. 211-38, doi:10.53791/imgelem.1846107.
Vancouver
1.Dilara Sülün. An Analytical Examination of Economic, Social and Political Indexes of Candidate Countries to the EU: A Comparative Study. İMGELEM. 2026 Jan. 1;(18):211-38. doi:10.53791/imgelem.1846107