Enhanced Cooperation in the EU - the Expirience up to now and the Potential for the future of the European Union
Abstract
Enhanced cooperation in the European Union (or closer cooperation originally) was introduced 20 years ago and enables deeper integration in certain areas to the willing Member States. However, Member States had not established enhanced cooperation until the Lisbon Treaty entered into force in 2009.
For the time being, there have been five cases of enhanced cooperation established. First, the paper aims at analysing the reasons for establishing enhanced cooperation in the EU thus far and evaluating the experience with this legal instrument.
Second, the author shall consider its potential for the future of the EU. In its White paper on the future of Europe from 2017, the Commission mentions scenario No 3 "Those who want more do more" and enhanced cooperation may serve as one of appropriate instruments to put this scenario into practice.