"Enlargement of the Union: Threat or promise?"

The fact that in Europe today the question posed in the title of this paper is being posed at all is, in itself, deeply significant, especially for those who consider enlargement as historically desirable or inevitable. It is, however, a question which has to be posed, and posed to all those involved in the process of seeking or preparing for the enlargement of the EU. The answer to the question seems obvious to most of those who feel concerned by this issue even if their answers do in fact differ considerably. It is also the case that although at an institutional level preparation for enlargement is widely recognized as one of the principal tasks facing the EU, little public debate has occurred on this issue and what debate there has been, has been initiated by political leaders, inside and outside the EU, primarily concerned with their own national political agendas. The enlargement issue is part of a number of interlocking challenges facing the Union and the answer to the question as to whether it is a threat or a promise depends on where, when and to whom the question is put