Dynamics of EU Development Policy after Enlargement

The enlargement of the EU from 15 to 27 member states has the potential to affect the whole direction and shape of EU policy with regard to development - both because of different priorities of the new Central and Eastern European (CEE) states and the issue of aid diversion to new and poorer states. This paper examines whether the CEE states have a fundamentally different approach to development and developing countries and whether this will lead to pressure to shift the policy in new directions over the longer term. In particular the paper explores the following questions: • has enlargement altered the geographical focus of EU development policy? • has enlargement altered strategic focus of EU development policy? • What has been the impact of the CEE states on the precepts of coordination, complementarity and coherence (3cs) in the EU's development co-operation policies and operations? • How has the Commission responded to new challenges, in particular how have the different Directorate Generals of the European Commission (Development & External Relations) integrated the views of the CEE states into development policy? Finally the paper will consider possible future directions for EU Development policy, given increasing influence by the new member states.