Successive enlargements of the EU have constituted major events in the history of European integration. They affect the Union's institutions, policies and policy-making processes and, because of the impact of these changes, enlargements have often been controversial. The major enlargement in 2004, which took the EU from 15 to 25 member countries, was followed by Romanian and Bulgarian membership in 2007 and Croatian membership in 2013. It is often argued that there is now enlargement fatigue, and progress towards the next step seems slow. However, a number of countries, especially in the Western Balkans, are eager to join, and Turkey has been an official candidate since 1999. Major challenges lie ahead for the candidates as well as the EU. Will the candidates be able to carry out the required reforms to fulfil the membership conditions, and will the EU be able - politically and institutionally - to widen its membership further? These decisions are of strategic importance for the future of Europe. This book analyses the issues involved, exploring the status of the ongoing enlargement process and the political games associated with it.

Contents: Finn Laursen: EU Enlargement. Issues and Policy Developments - Eli Gateva: EU Enlargement Policy and Institutional Battles. Can the Commission's Entrepreneurship Make up for the Lack of Strong Political Will in the Council? - Tanel Kerikmäe/Lehte Roots: Changing Theoretical Paradigm of EU Enlargement - Federiga Bindi/Irina Angelescu: The Geopolitical Implications of Future EU Enlargements - Heather A. D. Mbaye: The Multiple Dimensions of Compliance in the European Union. Lessons for Applicant States - Svet Derderyan: The Effectiveness of EU Leverage in Fighting Corruption in Central and Eastern Europe - Graeme Crouch: A Struggle for Influence. A Multi-levelled Appreciation of the Europeanisation Process - MiloS Milenkovic/Marko Milenkovic: Serbia and the European Union. Is the «Culturalisation» of Accession Criteria on the Way? - Alan Siaroff: Party System Institutionalisation in European Parliament and National Elections. The Comparative Impact of Expansion - Seçkin Baris Gülmez: EU-Scepticism vs. Euroscepticism. Re-assessing the Party Positions in the Accession Countries towards EU Membership - Marko Stojic: Ideological Families and Party Attitudes toward the EU in Serbia and Croatia - Gentian Elezi: Weak Conditionality and Uncertain Membership Perspective. Discussing EU Integration of the Western Balkans - Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi: Is There a Future for the Western Balkans in the European Union? - Faton Tony Bislimi: EU Enlargement and Kosovo's Europeanization. European Union and Shaping Kosovo's Representative or 'Represented' Democracy - Nanette Neuwahl: The Institutional Impact of Turkish EU Accession - Demetrios Nicolaides: The Non-accession of Turkey to the European Union. Implications for Cyprus Reunification, Eastern Mediterranean Natural Gas Exploration and Regional Stability - Boyka Stefanova: The End of Enlargement? The Case of Turkey, or Thinking Beyond the Widening versus Deepening Dichotomy.