Eastern Enlargement Of The European Union, The

Description:
In May 2004, eight former communist states in Central and Eastern Europe acceded to the European Union. This new book examines the Eastern expansion of the EU through a tripartite structure, developing an empirical, conceptual and institutional analysis to provide a rounded and substantive account of EU enlargement, with new theoretical insights. The foreword is by written by Pat Cox, former president of the European Parliament. John O'Brennan also explores: Why the EU decided to expand its membership? What factors drove this process forward? How did the institutional environment of the EU influence enlargement outcomes? In this context, he comprehensively covers the role of the European Council, Commission and Parliament. This important volume will be of great interest to students and scholars of European politics and European Union studies.

Table of Contents:
Part one: The Unfolding of Eastern Enlargement 1989-2004 1. Introduction 2. 1989 and Beyond: the New Europe Takes Shape 3. Beyond Copenhagen: the Deepening of EU-CEE Relations 4. Closing the Deal: Helsinki to Copenhagen Part Two The Institutional Dimension of Eastern Enlargement 5. The Council of Ministers and eastern enlargement 6. The European Commission and eastern enlargement 7. The European Parliament and eastern enlargement Part Three Conceptualizing Eastern Enlargement 8. Geopolitical explanations of eastern enlargement 9. Economic explanations of eastern enlargement 10. Normative explanations of eastern enlargement 11. Conclusions