Publication

This policy brief provides an overview of the main findings of CEPS research on EU enlargement during the 12 years leading up to the accession of ten new member states on 1 May 2004. EU enlargement is evaluated in terms of its economic impact on old and new members as well as the costs it imposes on the old EU-15. The paper further discusses the impact of the free movement of labor as well as the widespread concern that an enlarged EU will cause gridlock in the policy-making processes of the EU institutions.