Publication

This study analyses the evolution of the European Commission since the 2004 EU enlargement. The authors examine whether the negative expectations that enlargement will further weaken the Commission have materialized. Drawing on extensive empirical material, the authors argue that externally the Barroso Commission became less controversial and internally it is managed more efficiently than its predecessor. However, 2004 was not the watershed it was predicted to be. The authors argue that above developments should be understood as part of a long-term process and must be seen in the wider political context.