"From the Association Agreements to Full Membership? The Dynamics of Relations Between the Central and Eastern European Countries and the European Union"
This paper focuses on some of the fundamental future issues in the relationship between the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) and the European Union. Thus it does not deal with achievements and shortcomings of EU-CEECs relations as reflected by bilateral developments in the last years. More importantly, it tries to address the dynamics of developments and some of the major challenges European integration is likely to face well before the end of the century. Divided into eight chapters, the analysis starts with the adjustment criteria preceding CEECs membership (chapter I), to be followed by developments and special interests in sensitive areas, including the question of financial transfers (chapters II and III). Chapter IV looks at intermediate or alternative proposals to full membership. Special chapters are dedicated to the timing of membership and to the question whether accession should happen individually or in a group approach (chapters V and VI). Chapter VII examines the future of intra-European balance, while the last chapter offers some conclusions
