Candidate Countries and Conditionality

Abstract

Originally, research on “Europeanization” was concerned almost exclusively with domestic change in EU member states. In light of the developments of European integration in the past decade, however, this exclusive research focus no longer appears appropriate. In the aftermath of the crisis and downfall of communism, most Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) have declared the “return to Europe” to be their key foreign policy goal. This “return to Europe” included the pursuit of closer institutional ties with the EU, such as trade and association agreements, and cumulated in the accession of eight CEECs in 2004 (as well as Cyprus and Malta). Bulgaria and Romania are on schedule to follow in 2007, and Croatia and Turkey started accession negotiations in 2005. The remaining countries of the (Western) Balkans that are covered by the Stabilization and Association process launched in 1999 also possess a general membership perspective.