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Att bygga i motvind - En idéanalys av Europeiska unionens planerade expansion

Hanson Atterling, Axel LU (2025) STVK05 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The concept of expansion has since the inception of the European union been a detrimental part of its institutions. After several waves of expansion, the union has been deemed to be in a state of enlargement fatigue. This study examines the European Council-s expressed ideas regarding the EU´s prospective enlargement. Employing a two-tiered qualitative idea analysis – descriptive and explanatory – it analyses European Council conclusions between 2013-2025 to map out to what degree the union talks about enlargement, how it is legitimises enlargement, how models of integration are formulated and how transmission of values within the union is articulated. The descriptive analysis identifies a shift from low enlargement activity to distinct... (More)
The concept of expansion has since the inception of the European union been a detrimental part of its institutions. After several waves of expansion, the union has been deemed to be in a state of enlargement fatigue. This study examines the European Council-s expressed ideas regarding the EU´s prospective enlargement. Employing a two-tiered qualitative idea analysis – descriptive and explanatory – it analyses European Council conclusions between 2013-2025 to map out to what degree the union talks about enlargement, how it is legitimises enlargement, how models of integration are formulated and how transmission of values within the union is articulated. The descriptive analysis identifies a shift from low enlargement activity to distinct shift since 2022, wherein a geopolitical framing has been cemented. The explanatory analysis reveals a growing institutional preference for differentiated integration, particularly the “Multispeed-Europe” model. Simultaneously, the EU’s approach to the value transmissions has shifted from a dynamic, reciprocal process to a more tow-down trajectory, wherein alignment with the EU’s core values and foreign policy in member and candidate states is increasingly emphasized. The study contributes an updated ideational account of how the European union’s institutional rhetoric and strategic positioning have evolved in anticipation of potential future enlargement. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Hanson Atterling, Axel LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK05 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Europeiska unionen, EU:s utvidgning, Multispeed, Europe á la carte, Europeanisation, EU, Europeiska rådet
language
Swedish
id
9189782
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 10:38:08
date last changed
2025-08-08 10:38:08
@misc{9189782,
  abstract     = {{The concept of expansion has since the inception of the European union been a detrimental part of its institutions. After several waves of expansion, the union has been deemed to be in a state of enlargement fatigue. This study examines the European Council-s expressed ideas regarding the EU´s prospective enlargement. Employing a two-tiered qualitative idea analysis – descriptive and explanatory – it analyses European Council conclusions between 2013-2025 to map out to what degree the union talks about enlargement, how it is legitimises enlargement, how models of integration are formulated and how transmission of values within the union is articulated. The descriptive analysis identifies a shift from low enlargement activity to distinct shift since 2022, wherein a geopolitical framing has been cemented. The explanatory analysis reveals a growing institutional preference for differentiated integration, particularly the “Multispeed-Europe” model. Simultaneously, the EU’s approach to the value transmissions has shifted from a dynamic, reciprocal process to a more tow-down trajectory, wherein alignment with the EU’s core values and foreign policy in member and candidate states is increasingly emphasized. The study contributes an updated ideational account of how the European union’s institutional rhetoric and strategic positioning have evolved in anticipation of potential future enlargement.}},
  author       = {{Hanson Atterling, Axel}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Att bygga i motvind - En idéanalys av Europeiska unionens planerade expansion}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}