How the Union can help its newest members

Commentary feature. The EU's new member-states have been hit hard by the credit crunch and collapsing export markets. The Central and East Europeans sense that their post-Cold War growth model – consisting of liberalisation and EU integration – is broken. The risk is not so much political upheaval but policy procrastination. The new members have to keep preparing for ageing populations and shift towards a more diversified, innovation-based and climate-friendly growth model.

ESO: Background information: World Bank chief urges EU to lead support for eastern Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/world-bank-chief-urges-eu-to-lead-support-for-eastern-europe/

The Times, 19.2.09: Financial crisis poses a threat to reforms across Europe http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/bronwen_maddox/article5762190.ece

Centre for European Reform: Briefing Note: New Europe and the economic crisis, February 2009 http://www.cer.org.uk/publications/archive/briefing-note/2009/new-europe-and-economic-crisis

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