Entering the European Stage? Roles in Enlargement

Abstract

Enlargement is one of the EU's most significant and successful policies with an external dimension. Throughout the years, the EU has helped transform the states of southern Europe and Central and Eastern Europe. For years now, it has stalled, fallen into fatigue that paralysed the European side and removed any incentive for the candidates' side. Among the candidate countries, Montenegro is the most promising candidate, the frontrunner. Using the role theory framework, this thesis is going to analyse what motivates EU enlargement. The fundamental roles, value-based and interest-driven roles will give way to an analysis of key obstacles to enlargement and how the EU's policy performance concerning that is motivated by either or both of the roles. Generally speaking, both roles play a crucial role in enlargement. They often build up on one another and are closely interlinked. Nevertheless, a key question remains with regards to the overall dominance of either interest-driven or value-based motivators. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)