Central and Eastern European Economies

CHAPTER 2

The Role of the European Union in Eastern European Economies

Historians, economists, and political scientists have described the transition process following the post-1989 collapse of communist regimes throughout the Central and Eastern European (CEE) states as a “return to Europe.”¹ The task of “reconnecting” with Europe reflected a desire on the part of the elites and a significant portion of the public in these states to (re)claim a heritage or identity that, in political terms, entailed the creation of liberal democratic institutions and, in economic terms, a move toward the creation of market economies. Many believed this would be achieved gradually through participation in European integration and a single market. This chapter ...