The EU has grown in size over the years, with more countries wanting to join. This expansion has helped the EU influence the politics of potential new members. However, it also brings challenges for how the EU operates and the policies it enacts. The article compares the concepts of 'widening' and 'deepening' integration before discussing how the EU has expanded and why countries seek membership. It also looks at potential new members like Balkan countries, Turkey, Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland, as well as the European Neighbourhood Policy.