Progressive economic integration: making the magic work again

Abstract

, Most debates in the European Union are about money, yet its true mission is the promotion of peace and prosperity in Europe. In these terms, Eastern enlargement is the most important initiative since the Treaty of Rome. Quite simply, enlargement is a key pillar in the European post-Cold War architecture. It is essential for European peace and prosperity in the 21st century. Unfortunately, it will also be the EU’s most difficult enlargement for incumbents and entrants alike. Difficult for incumbents because the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) are so economically different from the incumbent nations. This necessitates politically difficult reforms in the EU. Difficult for the entrants because the necessary transformations of their economies and governments are massive and politically painful. To face these difficulties, two pre-accession strategies are needed, one for the EU and one for the CEECs. So far, only the CEECs admit that they need pre-accession strategies. The White Paper released at last year’s EU Cannes Summit clarifies an important component of the CEECs’ pre-accession strategy. While it contained no new policy initiatives, it provided a detailed prioritizing of Single Market legislation and the enhancement of technical and financial assistance to the CEECs. Both aspects help by boosting the predictability and credibility of the CEECs’ transformations and the EU’s evaluation of these reforms. 2. The EU’s missing strategy