Module Identifier IPM6130  
Module Title EU ENLARGEMENT: TOWARDS A WIDER EUROPE  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Mr Thomas Christiansen  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Ms Susanne Rentzow  
Course delivery Seminars / Tutorials   22 Hours  
Assessment Semester Exam   3 Hours   60%  
  Semester Assessment   Essay 1 x 3000 words   40%  
  Supplementary Exam   Students may, subject to Faculty approval, have the opportunity to resit this module, normally during the supplementary examination period. For further clarification please contact the Teaching Programme Administrator in the Department of International Politics.    

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module students are expected to:

- Display an in-depth knowledge of the implications of eastward enlargement on the functioning of the EU's institutional structure
Critically assess the risks and benefits of European Union enlargement from the perspective of the European Union-15 and the applicant countries
- Describe and analyse the key factors which influence the successful development of a Pan-European security
- Critically evaluate different theories and strategies on how to manage the challenge of eastward enlargement
- Demonstrate the development of communicative (oral as well as written) and research skills

Brief description

This module comprehensively analyses the risks and opportunities arising from the ongoing project of enlarging the EU towards the east with particular focus on the institutional, political and security implications for both the EU and the candidate countries.

Aims

With the prospect of enlarging the EU eastwards, the ongoing project of European integration is currently facing a challenge of historic dimension. This module aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the costs, benefits and risks of eastward enlargement whereby focus will be placed on both the perspective of the established member states of the EU-15 and the candidate countries. Paying attention to this double perspective, the module will be structured along the lines of four major themes, namely the challenge of institutional reforms, anticipated economic implications, the challenge of a new security strategy, and the impact on political and civil society

Content

The first seminar will address the progress in the pre-accession negotiations between the EU-15 and the accession states that has been achieved so far. Individual seminars will then look at institutional challenges facing both the EU-15 and the candidate countries, the implications of eastward enlargement for a pan-European security strategy as well as implications for the EU's external relations, and issues concerning the transformation of civil society inside the EU-15 and the candidate countries.

Transferable skills

Students have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of transferable skills that help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas. Throughout the module, students should practice and develop their reading, comprehension and thinking skills, as well as self-management. In particular, students will have the opportunity to practice and improve their presentation skills as they will be asked to independently research short presentations. In seminars students enhance and develop their analytical skills and practice listening, explaining and debating skills. Essay writing encourages students to practice independent research, writing and IT skills and the examination will test these skills under time constraint conditions.