The European Union (or the EU) was created at the beginning of the 1950s, by six founding members: France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Since then, it has grown to 25 members. When Romania and Bulgaria will join the European Union – possibly in less than two years from now – the EU will have 27 members and may continue accession negotiations with countries such as Croatia and Turkey.
In the long run, even countries like Switzerland or Norway, that have refused to join this European club so far, may become members of, or much more closely associated with, the growing EU family. The creation of closely integrated economic and political blocks around the world (alongside the EU, NAFTA, ASEAN, etc.) could force them to make that move, anyway.
Romania, for its part, sees the membership in the EU as a historic opportunity to return to its European destiny. Like other former Soviet satellites or Mediterranean countries (such as Malta and Cyprus), Romania’s leadership and population also perceives joining this organization as a chance to consolidate its political stability and promote economic prosperity. To meet its proposed goal of acceding to the EU, Romania has committed to adopt the EU’s “acquis communautaire,” that is the basic set of rules and procedures regulating political, economic and social interactions within the Union. It is generally believed that what are currently serious concerns, in various circles within the European Union, vis-à-vis Romania’s level of preparedness for membership will, however, be overcome and EU enlargement will become a reality for Romania and its southern neighbor, Bulgaria, in early 2007.
Less advanced countries on the road to EU membership, like the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine or Albania (what EU economists and political analysts call “laggards”), may see their prospect of joining the European Union denied, since the process of enlargement may come to a halt. Although the EU was initially set up to create prosperity through cooperation for all Europeans, unfortunately there are no guarantees that this generous plan will materialize for all of Europe’s peoples. The influence of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, for example, the breaking up of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s or simply the current, much discussed tension between “deepening” and “widening” within the European Union are just a few constraining factors that have had a negative impact on the creation of a Europe whole and free.
Romania thus really has to intensify its efforts related to EU accession, so that the chance of joining this European club is not missed. Complications such as the ratification of a proposed European Constitution, process that is currently taking place (France and the Netherlands having already said “no” to the project), present, nonetheless, major risks even for the current candidate countries.
The rejection of a European Constitution is not just an indication of a critical mass of voters disgruntled with their domestic political elites, but also a sign of more troubles to come in relations to the wider European project. In this complicated context, Romania has to make sure its reform measures are on the right track and this is adequately perceived in Brussels and other European capitals – for this seems to be a critical moment in the European Union’s decades-long history and its members may ask for further assurances that the enlargement process is indeed worth the price.
