Enlargement on Crossroads: Prospects for Croatia and the South-Eastern Europe

The paper analyses the present stage of the EU enlargement, gives the arguments for continuation or slowing down of further enlargement, estimates the potential impacts of the EU approach towards enlargement and discusses the position of Croatia, as a candidate country in this context. The following arguments in favour of continued enlargement are discussed: the need to respect remaining EU commitments regarding enlargement, positive effects of the fifth enlargement, and impacts of enlargement to peace and stability and transformative effect of the accession process. Among reasons for potential slowing down the enlargement, the paper focuses on the absence of institutional framework and the lack of Citizens' support. Furthermore, the paper discusses the outcome of the EU debates on integration capacity and the EU conditionality in the context of continued enlargement. The example of Croatia is analysed as a model, showcase for the other Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) countries.