Central Europe on the eve of EU accession

The report deals with the Central and Eastern European candidate countries that are currently negotiating their terms for membership of the EU. Following a brief historical overview, the study examines the current degree of political and economic integration between the EU and these countries. A separate section deals with the effect enlargement is expected to have on the Union's current and future Member States.

The study concludes that enlargement will add much more diversity than there is at present, in particular, due to the discrepancies in the level of economic development. The experience of the last 50 years has shown, however, that despite all its shortcomings, the Union has been capable of sensibly integrating very diversified countries and ensuring stable conditions for their development. History has also shown, though, that the position of countries within the Union largely depends on their capacity to absorb financial transfers as well as the quality of the state institutions allowing for efficient actions.