20 years of enlargement case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union

On 4 July 2024, colleagues from the Legal Services of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the EFTA Surveillance Authority, the Single Resolution Board and the Court of Justice of the European Union gathered together for the seminar entitled '20 years of an enlarged Union reflected in the case law of the Court of Justice. Exploring trends in the EU Court of Justice judgments following the 2004, 2007 and 2013 enlargements'. This publication presents a comprehensive record of the seminar proceedings. The original programme is supplemented with reflections on several additional issues pertinent to the subject. To better reflect the atmosphere that prevailed during the event, we have added testimonies from colleagues who welcomed the then 'new' Member State representatives as they joined the Legal Services. The dialogue between individuals, Member States, the EU institutions and the Court will continue, reflecting societal trends and developments which are constantly evolving in response to shifting internal and external needs, pressures and politics. As the Commission's Legal Service, we have the privilege of assisting in practically all the cases that are decided by the Court. Having worked towards removing the barriers to the EU single market, creating a more united EU in the areas that the founders of the EU Treaties anticipated but did not manage to frame, we strive for a common understanding of our shared EU values. As the EU evolves, the integration paradigm changes. This is why each enlargement wave requires both substantive and procedural adjustments. The Court helps us to interpret these changes.