How Can We Explain the Eastern Enlargement Process of the EU?

Abstract

Since the Treaty of Rome, the expansion phenomenon of European Union is the most importalt political tool of the union. The Eastern Enlargement of the EU, the number of countries that are both included besides old and new members in terms of political, social, and economic differences have been the most compelling expansion. This study tries to explain the contributions of East expansion to the integration of Europe in the context of three theories.

Keywords

• European Union
• Enlargement
• Eastern Enlargement
• Integration Theories
• Neo-Functionalism
• Liberal Intergovernmentalism