THE EUROPEAN UNION’S ENLARGEMENT PREDICAMENTS IN THE LIGHT OF BRITISH MEDIA REPORTS

Abstract

Brussels is optimistic that preparations for enlarging the European Union EU by the year 2004 are proceeding smoothly and that the overriding political imperative of enlargement will remove all barriers. All existing members agree that enlargement is a dominant issue and that the addition of several central and eastern European states would bring the Continent’s Cold War division to a symbolic end. Yet, the realities of what Charlotte Lindberg Warakaulle calls “bread and butter politics,” threaten to overshadow the “lofty rhetoric” of a united Europe.1 According to Rory Watson of The Times newspaper, behind the veneer of confidence is a growing awareness that a series of obstacles lie ahead, any of which could delay, or even derail, “a centuries-old dream of a peaceful, united continent.

References

1. 1 Charlotte Lindberg Warakaulle, ‘In and Out’, The World Today, Vol. 58, No. 7, 7 July 2002, p. 16.
2. 2 Rory Watson, ‘Roadblocks on Europe’s Path to Unity’ The Times, London, 7 June 2002.
3. 3 See Warakaulle, op. cit., p.16; see also Ian Black, ‘EU Enlargement Battle Begins as Leaders Fly Home’, Guardian, London, 22 June 2002. For EU enlargement perils, see S. R. Sonyel, ‘The Malaise of the European Union’, Perceptions, Vol. VI, No. 4, December 2001- February 2002, pp. 10ff.
4. 4 Toby Helm, ‘Germany won’t Pay More, Says Schröder’, Daily Telegraph, London, 22 June 2002.
5. 5 Warakaulle, op. cit., p. 16.
6. 6 Charles Clover, ‘The Peasant Farmers of Poland Fear EU Threat to Simple Life’, Daily Telegraph, 22 June 2002.
7. 7 Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, ‘New EU Countries Facing “Second Division” Status’, Daily Telegraph, 15 June 2002.
8. 8 Michael Mann, ‘EU States Start to Stake out Positions over Aid’, Financial Times, London, 5 April 2002.

9. 9 Clover, op. cit.
10. 10 Roger Boyes, ‘Eastward Expansion Makes Nonsense of Commission Dogma’, The Times, 20 May 2002.
11. 11 Stefan Wagstyl, ‘Holding Back’, Financial Times, 3 April 2002.
12. 12 Justin Huggler, ‘Polish Protests Highlight Rise in Anti-EU Feeling’, Independent, London, 26 June 2002.
13. 13 Stephen Smith, ‘Copenhagen Flirts with Fascism’, Guardian, London, 5 June 2002.
14. 14 Timothy Garton Ash, ‘The Grim Wedding’, Guardian, 27 June 2002.
15. 15 Kate Connolly, ‘5 m. Eye the West as EU Borders Expand’, Guardian, 27 June 2002.
16. 16 Wagstyll, op. cit.
17. 17 Smith, op. cit.
18. 18 Ian Black, ‘EU Enlargement Battle Begins as Leaders Fly Home’, Guardian, 22 June 2002.
19. 19 Michael Mann and Judy Dempsey, ‘EU Entrants not Equipped to Fight Corruption, Says Report’, Financial Times, 6 June 2002.
20. 20 George Parker and Judy Dempsey, ‘Verheugen Forges Ahead’, Financial Times, 6 June 2002.
21. 21 Warakaulle, op. cit.
22. 22 Watson, op. cit.
23. 23 Evans-Pritchard, op. cit.; Stephen Castle, ‘Leaders Calm Fears over Irish Neutrality’, Independent, 22 June 2002.
24. 24 Parker and Dempsey, op. cit.
25. 25 Castle, op. cit.
26. 26 George Parker and Clare MacCarthy, ‘Danish PM Unveils Secret Plan to Publish EU Expansion’, Financial Times, 28 June 2002.
27. 27 Ash, op. cit.
28. 28 Watson, op. cit.
29. 29 Statements by Greek Cypriot party leaders, see Kıbrıs newspaper, Lefkoşa, Vol. IX, No: 4, April 2001.
30. 30 Ash, op. cit.
31. 31 Ibid.
32. 32 Black, op. cit.
33. 33 Leading article, ‘The Boys from Seville’, Guardian, 22 June 2002