It hasn’t taken long for the countries of ‘new Europe’, to use Donald Rumsfeld’s infamous phrase, to pick up the bad habits of their ‘older’ siblings in the EU. An article in this week’s Economist argues that the countries of central Europe that joined the EU in May 2004 have lost their reforming zeal and could therefore present problems for the future enlargement of the EU. At the same time, we hear that the EU is planning to push back the date for these countries to join the Schengen area. The Economist argues that western European governments are going to have a hard time convincing voters to allow in more member states like those of eastern Europe. Certainly new member states have a role to play in acquitting themselves better in their attempts to reform. But wouldn’t this be a bit easier if the EU didn’t drag its feet over providing the carrots that must accompany the reforming sticks.
The Schengen issue is particularly pertinent. If the integration of ‘new’ and ‘old’ Europe is a problem, then perhaps making it easier for people from different parts of the EU to meet each other could act as a solution. Sadly, there seems to be little will for this to happen in western Europe. But as long as new member states’ citizens are treated so blatantly as second class, then divides and resentment are only going to solidify.