EU Enlargement
The UK is strongly committed to EU enlargement and has been at the forefront of the enlargement process. Enlargement has expanded the Single Market and increased its effectiveness through removing barriers to trade, thereby offering greater opportunities to UK business and benefits to our consumers. It has strengthened Members’ economies, offering businesses and citizens the full benefits of a competitive market – built on the principles of the free movement of goods, services, workers and capital – which following the most recent round of enlargement totals 450 million people
The enlarged EU gives us stronger influence in shaping global action to meet today’s challenges and helps us respond effectively to the challenges and opportunities of globalisation. UK support is however contingent upon applicant countries fully meeting the entry criteria and we will contribute to the Commission’s rigorous assessment and benchmarking process throughout the entry negotiations.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) leads on enlargement overall and coordinates policy for the UK. However, BIS has a very significant interest as enlargement and closer EU integration support our top level objectives of extending open, fair and competitive markets and removing existing barriers to trade, especially through the expansion of the EU internal market. We are therefore work closely with the FCO to ensure that BIS and UK business interests are represented in the negotiations between the EU and each applicant country, particularly in relation to single market issues, competition, social policy, and industrial policy.
For further information on EU Enlargement please see EU Commission's website.
