European Economic Integration: Did it Matter in the Past, Will it Matter in the Future?

Abstract

The European economic integration after WWII certainly has been one of the most remarkable institutional developments in the area of international economic relationships. A considerable degree of economic integration over a long period of time has been realised, following longer periods without any serious advancement. At the same time, the number of member states has expanded from six in the early days to fifteen in 1995. Since the beginning, the EEC/EC/EU integration process has stimulated discussions in neighbouring countries about the usefulness of application for membership. In the last decade, with the EC’92 programme and the opening-up of Central- and Eastern-Europe, it seemed that most European countries wanted to join the European Union. Even those countries that were previously rather unwilling, like Sweden, Finland and Austria, have in recent years been very eager to become a member of the EU. Times seem to have changed. The increasing attractiveness of the EU-concept can also be inferred from similar developments in other regions.