European Union enlargement and integration capacity: concepts, findings, and policy implications

This contribution introduces the concept of integration capacity and summarizes our research on the European Union (EU)’s integration capacity in Eastern enlargement. Integration capacity refers to the ability of the EU to prepare non-members for membership (external integration capacity) and to preserve its functioning and cohesion once they join (internal integration capacity). In general, we find strong evidence for the EU’s external capacity to prepare candidates for membership and for the EU’s internal institutional capacity to integrate new member states. By contrast, the absence of a membership perspective reduces external capacity, and sceptical publics weaken internal capacity. In addition, our results support the centrality of conditionality as a mode of integration. We conclude by highlighting the policy implications of our research for future enlargement and relations with associated states.