The European Union is crossing at present a difficult period, a period of contestations regarding the dimension of deepening and widening. In May 2004 there was an extension without precedent, with ten new member countries and in January Romania and Bulgaria adhered. The extension was not only in geographic terms but also in political and economic ones. In this complex context, EU is confronted with serious challenges. Some of these are concerning political and external relations, The Union being one the most important players on global economy scene. Others are of internal nature, related to democracy, efficiency and reform of institutions and policies of EU in an extended formula.
