APPENDIX 3: CALL FOR EVIDENCE
The European Union Select Committee of the House
of Lords, chaired by Lord Boswell of Aynho, is conducting an inquiry
into EU enlargement, which will look at the motivations and prospects
for further enlargement, and its potential consequences. The Committee
seeks evidence from anyone with an interest.
Written evidence is sought by 14 November 2012.
Public hearings will be held between November and January. The
Committee aims to report to the House, with recommendations, by
the end of March 2013. The report will receive a response from
the Government, and may be debated in the House.
Background
On 18 July, the European Commission published five-year
reports on the progress of Romania and Bulgaria, the newest EU
Member States, under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism
(COM(2012)410 and COM(2012)411). This novel mechanism, established
in 2007, aimed to support both countries in developing their track
records in key areas: reforms of their justice systems, tackling
corruption, and in Bulgaria's case, tackling organised crime.
On 10 October, the European Commission published
a Communication setting out its Enlargement Strategy for the next
twelve months, alongside in-depth reports on the progress of individual
countries who wish to join (COM(2012)600). The Commission's Communication
emphasises the contribution of enlargement policy to security
and prosperity in the region and the benefits brought by recent
enlargements, including deeper trade integration, a larger internal
market, and expanded employment and investment opportunities.
The Commission also argues that, at a time of significant economic
challenges, enlargement policy can be a powerful tool in fostering
reforms and growth in the countries that wish to join.
These documents, looking back to the most recent
round of enlargement and forward to Croatia's accession and beyond,
provide an important context for the Committee's inquiry, which
will contribute to the debate on how far the EU should continue
to enlarge, what the ideal timetable would be, and the best process
for doing so.
Issues
The Committee seeks evidence on any aspect of this
topic, and particularly on the following questions:
Principles behind enlargement
(1) Do Articles 2 and 49 of the Treaty of the
European Union provide the right principles for any further enlargement
of the EU?
(2) The Copenhagen criteria expand upon these
principles to provide a more detailed framework for eligibility
to join the Union. Do these criteria fully encapsulate the principles
behind EU enlargement?
The impact of EU membership on new Member States
(3) For new Member States, what is the economic
and social impact of EU membership on a) the country, b) regional
areas, and c) its citizens? You may wish to comment on the following:
(i) Trade integration and the flow of foreign
direct investment;
(ii) The benefits or pitfalls for small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs);
(iii) The benefits for consumers;
(iv) Accession's impact on wages and living standards
in 'new' Member States;
(v) Macro-economic discipline; and
(vi) Labour migration to and from new Member
States.
(4) For new Member States, what are the political
and constitutional effects of EU membership for a) Member States,
b) regional areas, and c) citizens? You may wish to comment on
the following:
(i) The dynamics of decision-making;
(ii) The impact on the judicial system and any
consequences of this; and
(iii) Citizens' political engagement at regional,
national and European level.
(5) Are new Member States (i.e. from the 2004
and 2007 enlargement rounds) satisfied with EU membership, or
are they disappointed? Why? Is this true for both the political
elites and the general population? Is Croatia satisfied with their
accession process and the arrangements in place for them to join
the Union?
The impact of enlargement on the Union
(6) What is the economic and social impact of
EU enlargement on the existing Member States? You may wish to
comment on the following:
(i) Trade integration and the flow of foreign
direct investment;
(ii) The benefits or pitfalls for small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs);
(iii) The benefits for consumers;
(iv) Accession's impact on wages and living standards;
(v) Macro-economic discipline; and
(vi) Labour migration to and from new Member
States;
(7) What are the political and constitutional
effects of enlargement? You may wish to comment on the following:
(i) The dynamics of decision-making in the EU;
(ii) Impact on EU law and the European Court
of Justice;
(iii) Impact on the EU institutions more generally;
and
(iv) Impact on the EU's role in the world and
foreign policy.
(8) On what policy areas does enlargement have
the greatest impact? How has enlargement previously impacted negotiations
on contentious policy areas, such as the Common Agricultural Policy
and migration and asylum? What impact is further enlargement likely
to have on such areas?
(9) What might be the broader geopolitical impact
of further enlargement, or of not admitting additional states
who wish to join? How might the European neighbourhood be affected
by the EU's decisions on enlargement?
The appetite and capacity for further enlargement
(10) What impact should the ongoing economic
and financial crisis, particularly in the euro area, have on further
enlargement?
(11) Is 'enlargement fatigue' setting in for
a) the Union as a whole, b) individual Member States, or c) candidate
countries? How can such 'fatigue' be gauged, and should the EU
be working to combat it?
(12) Do a) the EEA, b) the European Neighbourhood
Policy, or c) the possibility of a 'privileged partnership' offer
viable alternatives to full membership? Could these circumvent
'enlargement fatigue', either as permanent alternatives or as
stepping stones to full membership?
(13) Which current Member States have a) the
most and b) the least positive views of recent rounds of enlargement?
Is this true for both the political elites and the general population?
What are the most significant factors affecting public views of
enlargement?
(14) Have the lessons from previous enlargement
rounds been learnt to improve the processes of enlargement?
(15) How should the term 'absorption capacity'
be understood in the context of enlargement with regard to:
(i) The legal basis in the EU treaties?
(ii) EU decision-making?
(iii) EU budgetary resources?
(iv) The capacity of the EU's law-making and
other institutions?
(v) A European social or cultural identity?
(vi) Perceived geographical borders of 'Europe'?
You need not address all of these questions.
The inquiry will not address the desirability of
any individual country's accession.
10 October 2012
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