The Research Group at the University of Bologna that would coordinate the project consists of the faculty members of the scientific committee of the Jean Monnet Excellence Centre Punto Europa, soon to become an interdepartmental centre for European studies. The scientific committee is interdisciplinary, and many professors are involved in or have previously had Jean Monnet modules, chairs, research projects, and school initiatives. The research group includes some of the leading scholars of the EU and enlargement. It comprises, among others, many scholars, professors, and PhD students from the UNA Europa and MIREES university networks. Both inter-university networks are among the first to have developed European degree programs and offer "European" teaching with an interdisciplinary approach. Furthermore, both networks involve students from all over Europe and countries that may be included in future enlargements. Finally, these are well-established groups with a strong inclination for collaboration and interdisciplinary integration.
The group of researchers aims to conduct an interdisciplinary academic study on enlargement twenty years later and shed light on the challenges facing future enlargements. Among the key questions and objectives of the research:
- Was enlargement fatigue in Old and New member states genuinely caused by how the “big” enlargement was managed? Has the prolonged accession process of the new candidate countries contributed to growing tensions among citizens, who are becoming increasingly divided? A comparative analysis with previous enlargements would immediately reveal that most member states' accession processes were broadly similar. So why was the perception of particularly long timelines so widespread in this case? Or was the problem the opposite: were the accession processes too short, forcing new member states to make radical changes within a limited time, ultimately creating structural issues that still weigh heavily today?
- How much did the international system weigh on the internal situation? What role did the interpretation of the Cold War's outcome play? How significant was the economic and political influence of the United States in competition with Europe?
- Is enlargement fatigue solely a consequence of the "big" enlargement, or did the international and European changes of the 1990s trigger a broader shift in the integration process, impacting its economic and political resilience and shaping the "big" enlargement?
- During the 1990s, Europe underwent profound economic changes, culminating in the 2007-08 crisis, coinciding with the conclusion of the big enlargement. How much did these changes affect European citizens' attitudes toward the EU? How much did fears arise from competition with many new member states, sharing a budget that no longer seemed prosperous? How much did the first significant migration flows influence the closing of citizens from old Europe toward new member states? A preliminary analysis of Eurobarometer data during the 1990s clearly shows a growing distancing of citizens from the integration process, even in countries like Italy, where public opinion once overwhelmingly favoured the European Federation. This discomfort, this distancing, increased steadily despite seeming unnoticed or unacknowledged by the European political class, which experienced a growing detachment from European issues during those years. The increasing disaffection with the entire community process paralleled rising concerns about enlargement, so much so that in 2003-2004, a minority of citizens supported the entry of new member states into the EU. There were also significant differences between the new member states, with some being unpopular with most citizens. A deep analysis of these years within civil society, national political classes, and European institutions is crucial.
- When analysing annual reports during the pre-accession period, there are cases where the minimum thresholds required by the acquis communautaire were not met. To answer the questions posed, it is necessary to go beyond political statements and delve into some crucial elements, such as minorities. It will be essential to identify key areas of analysis in the fields of rights, economics, and social issues to understand whether and to what extent European institutions supported enlargement even where the minimum thresholds had not been met and how this affected the positive outcomes of enlargement for both individual states and the EU as a whole. A concrete and specific analysis is necessary to understand the real effects of enlargement.
- Understanding the results of enlargement and determining whether its effects have been predominantly positive is also crucial for future enlargements.
- Who contests EU enlargement and why? Looking at the EP plenary debates would allow us to understand which components and themes are contested, by whom and why. What arguments are used by opponents of further Enlargement, and how can they be tackled?
