2004 and 2009
From fundamental change to consolidation
Danuta Hübner
Member of the European Parliament , former European Commissioner for Regional Policy
Leading up to 2004 , the European Union had faced a combination of unprecedented challenges . That was the time of the reunification of Germany and the grand transition of the Central and Eastern European countries towards democracy and a market economy . But it was also the time of emerging populist movements in Europe influencing politics in the contexts of migration , putting emphasis on the protection of citizens and a community with a clear sense of borders . I believe it is legitimate today to look back critically at those years leading to the European unification miracle and ask ourselves whether , before and after 2004 , we all – European institutions , states , academic communities , politicians and civil society – did enough to address the challenges of this unprecedented enlargement . The geostrategic enlargement that is now ahead of us brings challenges of a similar scope .
The 2004 enlargement took place in an international environ-
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