About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 1 (July 3, 2008)

handle is hein.crs/crsahzy0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS21344 Updated July 3, 2008 European Union Enlargement Kristin Archick Specialist in European Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary The European Union (EU) views the enlargement process as a historic opportunity to promote stability and prosperity in Europe. On January 1, 2007, Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU, enlarging the Union to 27 countries. The EU's previous enlargement in May 2004 brought in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In 2005, the EU agreed to open accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia, and named Macedonia as an official EU candidate; in December 2006, the EU partially suspended talks with Turkey over ongoing disputes over Cyprus. Although the EU maintains that the enlargement door remains open, enlargement fatigue has become a serious issue in Europe and some experts believe that EU enlargement may be reaching its limits. The status of EU enlargement is one of many transatlantic issues likely to be of interest to the second session of the 110'h Congress. This report will be updated as necessary. See also CRS Report RS21372, The European Union: Questions and Answers, by Kristin Archick. Background on the European Union After World War II, leaders in western Europe and the United States were anxious to secure long-term peace and stability on the European continent and create a favorable environment for economic growth and recovery. In 1952, six states - Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands - established the European Coal and Steel Community, a single market in these two industrial sectors that was controlled by an independent supranational authority. In 1957, the Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community, extending the common market to all economic sectors, and the European Atomic Energy Community to ensure the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In 1967, these three formations collectively became known as the European Community (EC). The EC first added new members in 1973, with the entry of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark. Greece joined in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986. The Single European Act modified the EC Treaties in 1987 by increasing the powers of the European Parliament and enabling the 1992 single market program to move forward. At the beginning of 1993, the near completion of the single market brought about the mostly free movement of goods, services, capital, and people within the EC.

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most