Issue 4/2024: 20 years later. Is Europe still united?
Twenty years ago, the European Union experienced its largest enlargement ever, the so-called Big Bang, with the addition of 10 new member states. This enlargement included many of the countries in our region – Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The latest issue of New Eastern Europe takes a look at what was achieved and what challenges remain.
June 22, 2024 -
New Eastern Europe
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Issue 4 2024Magazine
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Twenty years ago, the European Union experienced its largest enlargement ever, the so-called Big Bang, with the addition of 10 new member states. This enlargement included many of the countries in our region – Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. This momentous occasion marked the culmination of hard work by the EU and the post-socialist countries, which aptly referred to it as the final “return to Europe”. With a newly united Europe (and more members on the way), it seems as that Euro-optimism had reached its pinnacle moment.
And since 2004, the new member states have certainly made some remarkable achievements. The GDP per capita in purchasing power parity of the new states grew from 59 per cent of the EU average in 2004 to 81 per cent in 2022. The income gap between the older and newer states has also narrowed over the last 20 years. Some countries’ living standards, such as Czechia or Slovenia, have even surpassed those of older EU members.
Yet, at the same time, these past two decades were not without challenges. Issues related to democratic backsliding, the rule of law and corruption have tainted the legacy of the enlargement. Voices in many western European capitals began questioning whether the enlargement itself was too soon. After a series of crises hit the EU, which began with the 2008 financial crisis, a rise in Euroscepticism began to counter the accomplishments of the previous generation of Euro-optimists and putting a major damper on any future enlargements.
Thus, the question today is: how united is Europe after these past 20 years? Certainly, the east-west divide remains a point of contention. However, other issues have also emerged, such as the rise of far-right populism and the debate over support for Ukraine. These phenomena can be found throughout Europe, and especially worth considering following the elections to the European parliament this June. As geopolitics once again becomes a key factor in European decision-making, we can only hope that unity prevails over division. Otherwise, the legacy of the EU Big Bang will be lost to the history books.
Table of Contents
Is Europe still united?
Give European democracy a chance. An enlarged Europe turns twenty Ferenc Laczó
Adolescence is over. Time for updates to the Central European growth model Konrad Popławski
Navigating new security threats requires a change in focus Anna Dohnalová
The Baltics have grown up. Do not call them new member states Stefano Braghiroli
Hungarian metamorphosis. From returning to Europe to occupying Brussels Zsuzsanna Végh
The ability to reconcile is a mark of a nation’s maturity A conversation with Milan Kučan
By allowing Western Balkans democracy to falter for two decades, the EU has trapped itself Alexandra Karppi
Essays and analysis
The changing narrative of Chinese foreign policy Konrad Szatters
Lessons about cyber warfare from Russia’s war against Ukraine Maria Branea and Leon Hartwell
Is Klaipėda worth a war? Oleh Dunda
Russian aggression against Ukraine. No peace in sight Yulia Kazdobina
Ukrainian media at war. Battles behind, battles ahead Aleksander Palikot
A parallel world of co-existence in Montenegro Svenja Petersen
Why Turkey’s ambitions are focused on the South Caucasus Karolina Wanda Olszowska
Interviews
How Putin entangled Germany in Schröder’s net An interview with Markus Wehner and Reinhard Bingener
Making the invisible seen. The Baltic struggle for independence A conversation with Una Bergmane
Stories and ideas
How Lukashenka’s regime silences the Belarusian free press Darya Grishchuk
The Polish pioneers and the unexpected hardships of migrating to Canada Małgorzata Sidz
The 80th anniversary of a tragedy that continues until today Piotr Andrusieczko
Art, culture and society
What remains ariel rosé
In Croatia, ecology and art mend the wounds of the past Tatjana Đorđević
Bosnia and Herzegovina has been misunderstood for too long JP O’Malley
History and memory
The 1863 uprising and the shared legacy of the Commonwealth Wiktor Babinski
A man outside the system Oleksii Lionchuk
