| Since the late 1980s, the far-reaching political and economic transformations in central and eastern Europe and in the ex-USSR have been linked in many ways with the relationship of this area with the European Community (E.C.) - now European Union (E.U.). These linkages are of an economic but also of a political, strategic and even cultural-ideological nature: the E.U. represents an anchor of security and democratic stability, as well as a model of socio-economic organisation (Hyde-Price, 1996). This paper presents in a succint form the major economic issues explicitly or implicitly at stake in the relations of central and eastern European countries (CEECs) with the E.U. and the eventual eastern EU enlargement. Relevant security and geopolitical considerations, albeit of paramount importance, shall be mentioned where appropriate but will not be analysed. |
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