New op-ed by Assoc. Prof. Panagiota Manoli titled “The EU must solve the credibility deficit in its enlargement policy”
Assoc. Prof. Panagiota Manoli has published a new opinion piece examining the credibility challenges facing the enlargement policy of the European Union.
Drawing on research from the GEO-POWER-EU report on “Discerning the perceptual gap between EU policies and the countries’ expectations and needs”, the article explores the widening perception gap between EU institutions and candidate countries. It highlights how prolonged delays in accession processes, shifting criteria and persistent strategic ambiguity have weakened both the transformative power and the geopolitical effectiveness of enlargement.
While EU enlargement regained strategic relevance after 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the analysis argues that renewed political momentum alone is not sufficient. Restoring the credibility of the process will require greater strategic clarity, consistent application of conditionality and a credible, tangible pathway to membership. Addressing these challenges will be essential if enlargement is to remain a meaningful instrument of the EU’s geopolitical and normative influence.
Read the full article on LSE European Politics.
*Featured image: The New Union Post