Definition
The process by which domestic policies, institutions, and norms in a state are reshaped by European integration.
TERMINOLOGY NOTE
Distinction: enlargement is about EU membership; Europeanization is about domestic change associated with integration.
Theoretical Context
Europeanization examines domestic policy and institutional change associated with European integration. Candidate countries can adapt before accession, while EU members experience ongoing adjustment and negotiation. It differs analytically from enlargement, which concerns who joins the Union.
Examples in Practice
01
EU candidate-country legal reform
Candidate countries adapt institutions and regulations in response to requirements of the accession process.