Anticipating the Institutional Consequences of Expanded Membership of the European Union
| Published date | 01 July 2002 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0192512102023003002 |
| Date | 01 July 2002 |
| Author | Bruno De Witte |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Anticipating the Institutional Consequences of
Expanded Membership of the European Union
BRUNO DEWITTE
ABSTRACT. The coming Eastern enlargement of the European Union is
seen by governments of the present member states, and by EU
institutions, as threatening the EU institutional system’s capacity to act,
more so than any of the preceding enlargements. This article explores
the origins of this concern, examines the way the EU states have sought to
address it by means of treaty reforms (the last of which was agreed by the
Nice European Council of December 2000), and addresses some other
institutional challenges that should be dealt with before enlargement
occurs.
Keywords:•EU Challenges • EU Deepening • EU Enlargement • EU
Institutions • EU Widening
Introduction
The European Union does not have a stable institutional system. During the last
twenty years, in particular, the EU went through a period of almost continuous
widening and deepening, which left its mark on its institutional mechanisms. The
widening consisted of an expansion of membership, from nine member states in
1980 to 15 in 1995. The accession of new states affects the functioning of the
institutional system in several ways. The new states are represented in the institu-
tions of the Union (the main ones being the Council of Ministers, the Commission,
the European Parliament, and the European Court of Justice). Accession of new
states makes the overall number of members of each institution grow, with the risk
of exceeding the appropriate size allowing for effective intra-institutional
deliberation. In addition, accession of new states has a specific impact on the
functioning of the Council of Ministers, the Union’s main decision-making body
composed of representatives of member state governments. The Council decides
according to two modes, depending on the policy area: unanimity or qualified
International Political Science Review (2002), Vol 23, No. 3, 235–248
0192-5121 (2002/07) 23:3, 235–248; 023896 © 2002 International Political Science Association
SAGE Publications (London, Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi)
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