Högskolan i Skövde

To become a member of the European Union, certain conditions have to be fulfilled. First of all, a country has to apply for membership. Furthermore, the country must geographically be situated in Europe, though there is some space of discussion (Cyprus, Turkey, and some territories and countries outside Europe). Finally the country has to meet the Copenhagen criteria (stability of institutions, functioning market economy, ability to take on the obligations of membership). Since 2004, new members of the EU even have to join the Economic and Monetary Union, when they fulfil the Maastricht criteria (low inflation and long-run interest rates, low public deficits and debts, stable exchange rates and independent national central bank). The purpose of this paper is to investigate some economic aspects and challenges of the enlargement of the EU since 2000. Even possible future enlargements will be discussed. Among the economic aspects the size, internationalisation and globalisation will be discussed mostly in macroeconomic terms. Furthermore, the question of Europe's international competitiveness and the Lisbon agenda from 2000 will be treated. The time perspective regarding the economic development in the past is approximately the years from 2000 to 2007, i.e. the actual development in 2008 and 2009 will not be dealt with. Finally, the question will be asked, whether past and future enlargements lead to a stronger or weaker European Union