To the list of articles27 october 2001
Exploring EU Eastward Enlargement Problematique: A Comprehensive Conceptual Review
This article reviews the main parameters constituting integration between the transition economies of East-Central Europe and the Baltic and the EU member states. Drawing upon a wide range of sources, it tries to acquire a decent degree of comprehensiveness by reconstructing the recent history, current state of affairs and trajectories of EU Eastward enlargement. By starting from the analysis of trade and investment practices, it comes up with fundamental questions of economic development, interpreted through the lenses of ‘catching-up growth’. The latter is explored in terms of technology diffusion and institutional capabilities of the applicant countries. The author’s contribution lies in the systematic and careful reconsideration of existing theoretical approaches to EU Eastward enlargement in order to present them critically and thoroughly to local audience.