Since its first enlargement in 1973, expansion has become a way of life for the EU. The current round of enlargement is, however, unprecedented in its scale, in the diversity of applicants, and in the impact on EU structures and policies. This major new text brings together specially commissioned chapters to provide a coherent and comprehensive assessment of the historical and theoretical context of enlargement and its implications for the identity, governance, economics, policies and international role of the EU. GERHARD MICHAEL AMBROSI Jean Monnet Professor of Economics, University of Trier, Germany CLIVE ARCHER Research Professor in Politics, Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom NICKOS BALTAS Professor of Economics and Jean Monnet Professor of European Economics, Athens University of Economics and Business, and President of the Hellenic University Association for European Studies, Greece MICHAEL BAUN Professor of International Relations, Valdosta State University, USA LAURI BUONANNO Associate Professor of Political Science, State University of New York, College of Fredonia, USA MAURIZIO CARBONE PhD candidate, University of Pittsburgh, USA and intra muros consultant, European Commission, DG Development MICHELE CHANG Assistant Professor in Political Science, Colgate University, USA ANN DEAKIN Associate Professor in Geosciences, State University of New York, College at Fredonia, USA HEATHER GRABBE Deputy Director, Centre for European Reform, London, and Non-Stipendary Junior Research Fellow, Wolfson College, Oxford University, United Kingdom ADRIAN VAN DEN HOVEN Adviser, Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE), Brussels, Belgium JANET MATHER Senior Lecturer in Politics, Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom LEE MILES Senior Lecturer in Politics, Research Director and Deputy Head, Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Hull, United Kingdom JOHN OCCHIPINTI Associate Professor of Political Science, Canisius College in Buffalo, USA DAVID PHINNEMORE Senior Lecturer in European Integration, School of Politics and International Studies, Queen's University of Belfast, United Kingdom ELEANOR E. ZEFF Assistant Professor of Politics and International Relations, Drake