Abstract
After the end of the Cold War the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) enlargement were two main political processes in the European continent. Both organizations since their inception, promoted the idea of integrated Europe without borders, which meant creating a Europe without divisions and bringing back all Central Eastern European (CEE) countries into the European family where they belong. However, after half a century of isolation in the totalitarian communist system the CEE countries (CEEC) had to undertake fundamental institutional, political, economic, military and other reforms in order to join NATO and the EU. In order to ease the process of accession, both organizations set certain criteria for membership for the CEECs. While NATO’s requirements for membership were more general and flexible, the EU’s requirements, on the other hand, were non-negotiable and closely enforced.Therefore, this article will explore NATO’s and the EU’s enlargement process eastwards, its similarities and differences. In addition, it will analyse the difficulties and challenges with special focus on Russia’s opposition to this process.The author will identify the similarities and differences between NATO and the EU’s enlargement and will argue that the eastern enlargement marked the final end to the Cold War antagonism and it created conducive preconditions for more secure and prosperous Europe.
Highlights
The end of the World War II brought peace in the European continent and hope for a better future
After the end of the Cold War the CEE countries (CEEC)’s began their political and economic reforms for transition to the liberal democracy and open market economy. They applied for membership in almost all western international / regional organizations, including North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU)
The NATO and the EU Eastern enlargement meant a final end to the Cold War antagonism and the prospect for political stability in a wider Europe
Summary
The end of the World War II brought peace in the European continent and hope for a better future. After the end of the Cold War the CEEC’s began their political and economic reforms for transition to the liberal democracy and open market economy They applied for membership in almost all western international / regional organizations, including NATO and the EU. Both organizations NATO and the EU developed similar political criteria for CEEC’s membership, notably requesting establishment of a stable democracy, respect for human rights and protection of minorities. These organizations had different sets of criteria i.e. military criteria’s for NATO; whereas EU had economic, social, technical and administrative criteria’s (Bebler, 1999). The NATO’s expansion eastwards was perceived by Russia as a security threat and national humiliation; objections and criticism among the general public in Russia was and remains high (Ross, 2003)
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