Europe Reunified?

In this article, Stephan Sberro weighs up the political implications of joining the European Union (EU) for ten Central and Eastern European nations that were ruled by communist dictatorships for more than five decades and that suffered the attendant economic and political strife. This ambitious expansion of the EU was deemed risky at the time, but seven years down the line, we can say it has been a success, particularly from an economic standpoint. From a political viewpoint, however, the results have been more ambiguous. These fledgling democracies are not the only ones in the EU dealing with a resurgence of populism and nationalism, but they are more vulnerable to their onslaught. The driving force behind this new wave of eu membership can be discerned in the drawing up of a common European security policy. As former communist nations, the geopolitical vision of these ten new members is shaped by concerns over Russia. In response to this perceived threat, they have sought to form close ties with the United States in the belief that this is the best solution, even though it will indubitably hinder Europe’s progression from its current standing as a common political, economical and social entity to the status of world power.