Journal: Annals of the Croatian Political Science Association : political science journal, vol. 23 no. 1
Publisher: Croatian Political Science Association
Year: 2026
ISSN 1845-6707 (Print)
ISSN 1847-5299 (Online)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20901/an
The paper examines the influence of macrostructural characteristics, the EU’s institutional framework, and the diverse perspectives of existing Member States on enlargement policy through the structure–agency debate proposed by the critical theory of integration. Enlargement policy has primarily been examined through analyses of the relationship between the European Union and candidate countries. This paper, however, takes a broader perspective on the prolonged stagnation of enlargement policy. The aim of the paper was to provide a comprehensive explanation of the stagnation of enlargement policy, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the complex process shaping the development of European integration and future rounds of enlargement.
