What are the potential benefits and losses for the EU if this country gains membership? Who stands to gain more by this country’s membership; the country of the EU?

“The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the six Candidate Countries negotiating accession to the European Union on the basis of the decisions of the Luxembourg European Council in December 1997 - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia - met for the third time in Budapest on 15 November 2000. They reconfirmed that their accession to the European Union is not only crucial for their own countries but a well-managed enlargement is an integral part of realizing the vision of a strong and efficient European Union.” - Joint Statement, Budapest, November 15 2000

As the above statement suggests, converting from a ‘candidate country’ into a formally recognized member of the European Union holds both benefits and opportunities for the respective nation and the EU itself. The respective nation in this case is the Czech Republic and through this paper I shall attempt to identify those gains and losses the Czech Republic will face whe

The most intriguing question is concerned with the process of ‘deepening Europe’ and how this process may prove disadvantageous to the EU. How will the European Union successfully combine a deepening and widening of the EU? The path towards an answer holds risks and numerous dangers. From inefficient decision making to a weakening of the core EU institutions, ‘euroskeptics’ are heavily armed with plenty of ammunition. Yet I argue that the EU has already made its decision and this decision is one heavily favoring a deepening as opposed to a widening of the European Union. The establishment of the EMU (European Monetary Union), the introduction of the ‘euro’ and the subsequent abolishment of national currencies can all be used to support my argument. For a candidate such as the Czech Republic, joining the euro is only an option after obtaining formal membership and meeting further convergence criteria. Such a process, I argue, will ensure the continuing strength and survival of the multi-tier structure of the EU. However, I will end this point will a word of caution for the EU. At present the EU will have little difficulty in absorbing a few, even half a dozen, new members. However, as the EMU and internal market add further distance between the economic EU and the political EU (both very distinct entities), and as thirteen candidates wait eagerly for news, sooner rather than later a formal constitution will have to be constructed. If this does not occur then again, the decision making capabilities and even individual institutions are at stake and this poses a grave threat to the EU.

Some topics in this essay:
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