Name :
Date :
1. What historical patterns can we observe in EU enlargement?
Answer:
From the founding six to the 2004 Big Bang, each wave reflects a mix of geopolitical
shifts and institutional maturity. Post-2004, enlargement slowed due to enlargement
fatigue and internal EU crises.
2. How have old Member States responded to enlargement?
Answer:
Mixed reactions: economic optimism vs. cultural insecurity. Fears include job
competition, social dumping, and dilution of national identity, as seen in responses to
the Bolkestein directive.
3. What are the Copenhagen Criteria and why are they important?
Answer:
They are the foundation for EU membership: stable democracy, human rights, market
economy, and acquis compliance. They reflect both moral and functional requirements.
4. What does the Cassis de Dijon case reveal about mutual recognition?
Answer:
It sets a cornerstone of EU law: products legally sold in one state must be accepted by
others. This legal logic supports market integration but also raises sovereignty concerns.
5. How does the EU handle legal diversity among its members?
Answer:
Through the principles of mutual recognition, subsidiarity, and harmonization. Yet
tension remains, especially when national courts resist supranational rulings.
6. What role does solidarity play in EU integration?
Answer:
Solidarity is both a political and legal concept, evident in budget transfers, crisis
response (e.g., migration), and economic stabilization. It is a moral glue holding diverse
members together.
7. Why is the rule of law a recurring theme in integration?
Answer:
It ensures that power is exercised within legal bounds. Breaches (as in Hungary or
Poland) prompt conditionality measures, reflecting the EU’s core identity as a
community of law.
