Conclusion

Abstract

This book has examined EU influence in the CEE candidate countries, focusing on what the EU actively sought to change and the routes of Europeanisation that were established by the accession process. The EU had an enormous potential influence on public policy in CEE because between 1989 and 2004 every government in every applicant country claimed that EU membership was its first foreign policy priority. Moreover, beyond the attraction of membership, the EU had specific routes of influence through which it could shape political choices, in particular gate-keeping, benchmarking, models, money and advice.