Unlocking enlargement and building common defence: next steps for the European Union
The future of the European Union is being determined by how it responds to Russia’s war in Ukraine and the revision of US global strategy. This paper argues that Ukraine’s rapid accession and the construction of a genuine European common defence are not separate projects but mutually necessary components of a single strategy to dispel complacency, combat rising nationalism and deter external security threats.
On past performance, the EU has been too ready to reject reform for fear of something worse. But the present deep crisis of European security must impel its political leaders to innovate. This paper examines the EU’s options and suggests reforms for its own institutions and the wider neighbourhood to underpin a new round of enlargement.
Our proposals include revising the Copenhagen criteria, streamlining the formal accession process, creating a new category of EU accession state, drafting an intergovernmental defence treaty and establishing a European Security Council.
Read the full Discussion Paper here.
Andrew Duff is an Academic Fellow of the European Policy Centre. He is a former Member of the European Parliament (1999-2014), a Vice-President of the Liberal Democrats, Director of the Federal Trust, and President of the Union of European Federalists (UEF). He tweets @AndrewDuffEU and @andrewduffeu.bsky.social
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