Implications of Widening the European Union

The article looks at the initial stated requirements for EU membership- that a Member State of the European Communities be “a European state”- and the implications of widening EU membership in light of additional requirements that have since been formalized. These include, 1) being a European state; 2) having a democratic form of government; 3) respecting fundamental rights; and 4) having something of a market economy structure. With respect to the fourth requirement, a state is not required to have a full market economy structure, however, it must be on the way towards it.