La ampliación al Este y sus posibles efectos sobre la cooperación al desarrollo de la UE

Abstract

Since the Copenhagen European Council (June 21-22, 1993) EU member States set the foundations of the widest enlargement process in the history of European integration, foreseen to take place in 2004. Beyond its consequences in terms of efficiency and efficacy of the integration process, enlargement will surely has repercussions over EU’s international projection and activity. Some impact could be foreseen in specific areas such as development cooperation. However, any EU’s official document on enlargement takes into account its costs or benefits for the rest of the world. At the same time, development cooperation policy does not seem to be a priority in the framework of the negotiating process towards adhesion. Evaluation of possible impacts of enlargement over the future of EU’s development policy does not seem to be a priority either in the framework of the political or academic debate in Europe. Additionally, there is an almost total lack of literature on the subject.