Scholar Profiles
Benjamin Freeman
2005 - 2006 University Scholar
Mentor: Petia Kostadinova
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
"I took a class on the European Union last fall and learned how during its latest enlargement, former communist countries willingly gave up some of their sovereignty to join. I thought the USP would be a great opportunity to explore this phenomenon in greater depth while learning to conduct groundbreaking research."
Benjamin is a senior majoring in both political science and Spanish. His academic interests include international relations, political science and languages. He is a member of College Democrats and French Club, and has participated in the French Conversation Table and Model UN.
Research Description:
Transposition of the European Union Acquis Communautaire: Factors that Affect the Timeline of Implementation
The European Union has a set of requirements, the Acquis Communautaire, that all new members must meet before they are allowed to join the Union. These 80,000 pages of regulations have to be transposed into each candidate country's national legislation. The rules cover a multitude of issues, from water safety to gender equality. The guidelines are non-negotiable and must be implemented in full.
I am researching which factors most influence the speed with which the Acquis are adopted. Why does it take so long for some countries to come into line than others? Can it be the structure of the government--for example, a presidential system versus a parliamentary system? Could it be governmental foot-dragging to benefit a powerful minority? Or does the level of public support for joining the Union have an effect? Understanding these issues could help future EU applicants have a quicker adoption of the Acquis and a smoother transition into the European Union.
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