A Wider Europe

The Process and Politics of European Union Enlargement

By (author) Michael J. Baun

Publication date:

09 August 2000

Length of book:

280 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9780847690367

This clear and engaging text examines the process and politics of the European UnionOs OEasternO enlargement, beginning with its initial response to the 1989 revolution up through the Helsinki summit decisions of December 1999. Michael Baun explores such topics as the EUOs original decision to enlarge, the pre-accession strategy for prospective members, the key political decisions on launching and expanding the accession negotiations, and the actual progress of the negotiations. He also examines the EUOs efforts to reform its policies and institutions in advance of enlargement. Throughout, Baun weaves in understandable explanations of the complex multilevel process of EU decisionmaking. He concludes by considering the limits of enlargement and its consequences for the EUOs future development.

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 The Challenge of Enlargement
Chapter 3 Opening the Door
Chapter 4 The Pre-Accession Strategy
Chapter 5 The Road to Luxembourg
Chapter 6 Preparing the EU for Enlargement (I): Agenda 2000
Chapter 7 Preparing the EU for Enlargement (II): Institutional Reform
Chapter 8 Beginning the Accession Process
Chapter 9 To the Helsinki Summit
Chapter 10 The Accession Negotiations
Chapter 11 Conclusion: Toward a Wider Europe

Michael Baun provides a wide-ranging, highly informed, and penetrating account of the most important issue currently on the European Union's agenda. The book is well organized, well written, and a pleasure to read.