Enlargement/Agenda 2000-Watch

On 1 May 2004 the EU will enlarge to 25 member states. Member states are uncertain what they will gain or lose from enlargement and they are concerned about the implications for the functioning of the EU. Talk is even of enlargement as a u0093leap in the darku0094. The reports in this study deal with these issues as well as with reforms of EU institutions and policies discussed by the European Convention. The study evaluates the outcome of accession negotiations from the perspective of 13 member states and four acceding countries. The reports show that the governments of the member states and the acceding countries think that the overall deal, i.e. the terms of accession, are a good compromise. Double standards in Common Agricultural Policy remain controversial although the EU will gradually introduce direct payments for farmers in the new member states, although below levels for the current 15 members. Earlier criticism is repeated regarding transition periods that have been claimed by current member states (e.g. in chapters like transport and movement of workers) and where the EU used superior bargaining power. Austria is dissatisfied with the partial extension of the eco-point system for road transport of heavy goods. In quantitative terms, transition periods claimed by acceding countries by far outnumber those claimed by the member states. However, the transitions granted indicate different economic capacities and also diverging political preferences of both negotiation parties.