EU Enlargement

Supporters of enlargement see this as a historic opportunity to put behind a long history of conflict and dissension and bring about a Europe that would be united in peace. It is expected that the new induction would have a trickle down effect of stability and prosperity of the current member states on the new members, making Europe a safer place.

However, there are also uncertainties and concerns. As some Europe watchers have suggested, there are uncertainties in the existing member states over immigration, over the new balance of forces within the EU and over whom the club should admit next. The newcomers are concerned about price hikes without commensurate salary increases. There is disappointment that established members have placed restrictions of up to seven years on freedom of movement for workers from the relatively poor east into the west. There are hosts of other issues that are still to be ironed out, not least of all which is the issue of an EU constitution. But the essence of the whole matter is encapsulated in the words of one of the fathers of European reunification, former German Chancellor Helmut, who commented, "The message is there will never again be war in Europe." One hopes that interdependence that the new integration will bring about would reduce prospect of conflict.

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One would like to think that such profound and pious thoughts would one day motivate our leaders to elevate South Asia into a more integrated forum so that cooperation might have an enduring presence and the prospect of conflict in South Asia might recede forever.