Integration or Fragmentation? Institutional and Financial Challenges of EU Enlargement
Abstract
The European Union’s enlargement policy faces a dual structural challenge. On the one hand, respect for the rule of law has become an indispensable condition for both candidate countries and Member States, reinforcing the normative dimension of the integration process. On the other hand, the accession of lower-income economies—such as Ukraine, Moldova, or the Western Balkans—would have a significant impact on the EU budget, particularly on the Common Agricultural Policy and cohesion funds. This makes it necessary to rethink the Multiannual Financial Framework, with possible increases in national contributions, redistribution of resources, or the creation of new own resources. The interaction between these two axes—democratic conditionality and financial sustainability—defines the pace and viability of the next enlargement.
Received: 20 April 2026
Accepted: 13 May 2026
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