As the EU starts another round of enlargement talks, it is time to reflect on lessons from the historic expansion to Central and Eastern Europe. In a recent comment -- published OPEN ACCESS, Veronica Anghel focus on three lessons in particular. 1/

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First, the 2004 “Big Bang” enlargement was a powerful reminder that European integration is an instrument for peace and not just prosperity. The pace of that enlargement depended more on the requirements for stability than on the transformation of the candidate countries. 2/

Second, it was a reminder of the importance of forward-looking analysis. Candidates might meet the criteria for membership at the time of accession, but that is no guarantee that they will develop in ways that continue to reflect those criteria once they have gained entry. 3/

Third, it was a reminder that enlargement changes the experience of membership for all member states and not just for those countries that gain entry. This third point needs more development. 4/

As we argue in WEP Journal, a larger Union requires self-discipline to hold down congestion in decision-making and multilateral surveillance to prevent the actions of one member state from undermining the benefits for the rest. 5/ doi.org/10.1080/014023…