ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses existing approaches in order to propose a specific approach that, it is argued, best accounts for Eastern enlargement. Accession negotiations with Turkey started as late as 2005 although the association agreement of 1963 already explicitly envisaged an accession. In both the Southern and the Eastern enlargements, it was inconclusive whether they were an 'alternative or stepping stone'. Most academic contributions on Eastern Enlargement focused on it effects; however, a fruitful theoretical discussion on the origins of Eastern enlargement also developed. The approaches to Eastern enlargement differ regarding the motivations they consider to be decisive. In the association phase, this anomie led to the Pareto-optimal Europe Agreements. Anomie still prevailed due to contrary implications of the inclusive and the participatory norm regarding Eastern enlargement. In respect to the enlargement decision, the anomie dissolved after the successful referendum on the Maastricht Treaty in Denmark.
