Articles by Frank Schimmelfennig

January 3, 2025

🧭 'Differentiated membership' would overcome the EU’s enlargement dilemma

Frank Schimmelfennig

The EU is caught in a dilemma between its geopolitical urge to enlarge and the high institutional standards for membership. Frank Schimmelfennig argues that differentiated integration would help square the circle. Committed candidate countries could join fast, but only enjoy full rights and benefits of membership conditional on institutional progress

Frank Schimmelfennig

Professor of European Politics, Center for Comparative and International Studies, ETH Zurich

Frank is also a member of the Research Council of the Swiss National Science Foundation, an Associate of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute, and Chairman of the Scientific Board of Institut für Europäische Politik Berlin.

His research focuses on European integration and he publishes regularly on integration theory, EU enlargement and Europeanisation, and differentiated integration.

Ever Looser Union? Differentiated European Integration
Oxford University Press, 2020 (with Thomas Winzen)

The Loop

Cutting-edge analysis showcasing the work of the political science discipline at its best.