https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/121848 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 20:22:56 GMT 2026-04-04T20:22:56Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122018 Title: The evolution of the European Union enlargement policy : a historical approach to the Copenhagen criteria Authors: Lorca Arce, Aida Abstract: Twenty-two countries have been involved in the process of accession to the European Union since the founding of the Coal and Steel Community in 1951. It was not until 1993, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, that the criteria and process to be followed by the candidate countries for accession were formally established, with the aim of preparing the entity for its further territorial expansion. At the same time, the concept of the EU as a western European league was put to an end to give a new meaning to the word “European”. Thirty years later, this paper provides a historical contextualization of the European Union’s enlargement policy and assesses the evolution of the Copenhagen criteria through the successive enlargement processes. In addition, the study warns about the implications of setting double standards for Member States and candidate countries, and the importance of a balance between widening and deepening policies for the success of the European project. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122018 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122017 Title: Navigating the Cyprus question : the EU’s role in the 2008 negotiations and the Eastern Mediterranean crisis Authors: Kotelis, Andreas Abstract: The enlargement of the European Union (EU) in 2004 marked a significant milestone in its history, as it not only substantially increased the EU’s membership but also expanded its cultural and political horizons. Nonetheless, the 2004 enlargement did not come free of challenges. One of the most significant challenges was the accession of the Republic of Cyprus due to the Cyprus issue which remained unresolved, despite efforts for resolution before the final accession in May 2004. The current paper will discuss the case of Cyprus by focusing on the role of the European Union during two key post-2004 periods; the 2008 negotiation process and the Eastern Mediterranean crisis of 2018. The effort will be to highlight the role of the European Union in these developments and to analyse the challenges and opportunities for the European Union to engage more actively with the resolution of the Cyprus issue. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122017 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122016 Title: Malta’s rule of law in crisis : perspectives from a captured member state Authors: Lobina, Benedetta Abstract: Perhaps owing to its unique legal and political history and its status as the smallest Member State of the European Union, Malta has been largely overlooked in the fast-growing EU rule of law literature, despite suffering from substantial deficiencies characterised by lack of judicial independence, curtailment of free press, high level corruption, as well as the engagement in dubious practices such as the sale of EU citizenship. Furthermore, the Maltese case is peculiar as the government operates through systematic violations of the rule of law in its procedural guise, whereby breaches do not lie in the open repudiation of legislation and checks and balances, but rather in the lack of impartiality in the process of administration of the rules, which in turn are particularly vulnerable to abuse. Despite the lack of overt legislative misdemeanour, this practice undermines the rule of law as well as the fundamental assumption of mutual trust upon which the EU is based. The present paper will critically analyse the erosion of the rule of law in Malta, highlighting how the lack of domestic checks and balances affects sincere cooperation and the EU legal and political order as a whole. It will argue that the lack of impartiality in the judicial system, the attacks on independent media and the promotion of corruption-prone activities, such as the sale of EU citizenship, openly contradict EU values under Article 2 TEU and pervert the system in favour of a government that seeks to preserve its power and remove accountability. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122016 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122015 Title: The impact of EU membership on Malta’s climate action Authors: Galdies, Charles; Galdies, Clara Abstract: This article analyses how Malta, a Republic since 1974 and a Member State of the European Union (EU) as of 2004, has reacted to a shifting European governance landscape in the area of climate. It does so by analyzing the impact EU membership has had on Malta’s legal framework, policy performance, and its approach towards climate change. Despite good progress in some areas such as greenhouse gas emission reporting as well as the formulation of legislation, policies and strategies for climate action and adaptation, the EU framework has had an ambivalent impact on Malta’s climate performance. This article mentions how Europeanisation and compliance with EU law can vary across Member States and policy domains and highlights the difficulties of certain Member States to fully accept and adopt EU environmental norms due to, among others, horizontal and vertical fragmentation of their administrative structures and the degree of political activism on the environment. Malta’s case is hereby discussed within the context of a rapidly changing climate, with an emphasis on three extreme climate hazards: heatwaves, sea level rise and droughts. The article highlights the urgent need to frame Malta’s national policies on factual information that is Malta-specific and not on an assumed theoretical or regional inference. In doing so, the true impact of a changing climate on Maltese assets can be understood. Without Malta-specific knowledge there is a danger that public policies will be less effective or even counterproductive to the country’s economic sectors, and ultimately to the quality of life. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122015 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z