Eu Enlargement, Region Building And Shifting Borders of Inclusion And Exclusion

The entry of 10 Central and Eastern European countries, along with Malta and Cofu, into the EU in 2004 caused a huge shift in the EU's external boundaries. The socio-economic and political transformations that this shift has caused along the new EU border not only portend new regional development opportunities, but also many potential problems and tensions. While the EU insists that enlargement will not signify 'new divisions', processes of inclusion and exclusion and the imposition of visa restrictions on non-EU citizens could pose obstacles to co-operation, conjuring fears of an emerging 'fortress Europe' that effectively divides the continent. Hence, at these new external EU borders, it will be necessary to find mechanisms for 'region-building' that mediate between external pressures and local concerns and that transcend socio-economic, political and systemic asymmetries. Illustrated with case studies from Central and Eastern European border areas, this book examines capacities for region-building across national borders in within the context of EU enlargement. This includes, among others, co-operative structures, governance practices, conflict-minimising dialogue and strategies for joint economic development. The book's conclusion synthesizes the various insights provided by local information and suggests ways forward for the future development of the EU's 'Wider Europe' strategy.