European Union fifth enlargement : A opportunity for the future?

We are at the beginning of a new stage in the construction of Europe. After the creation of the single market and the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), which have been the goals of the European Union (EU) in the last fifteen years, the supranational organization now faces a new challenge: the largest enlargement in its almost half century of history. The Union has never been a closed organisation, as shown by the fact that the enlargement process under way is its fifth experience in this respect (1). However, the new international context, the large number of candidate countries and their socio-economic situation, which is still quite far from Community standards, make future accessions particularly difficult and extraordinary. But the multiple problems that candidates generally suffer from are only one side of the coin. The EU's political disposition in favour of enlargement may not be sufficient to ensure that the first accessions take place in the short term: the controversial institutional reforms to be carried out and the delicate financial and political situation of the organisation pose major obstacles along the way that must not be forgotten. That enlargement will take place is something that few doubt, but it also seems clear that it may not be as soon as the most optimistic opinions predict