The economic downturn makes it difficult objective perception of the "Eastern Europe"

This definition has never been logic, but now it is becoming more and defamatory. "Eastern Europe" - Geographical curiosity, which includes the Czech Republic (located in the middle of the continent), but not Greece or Cyprus (which are supposedly located in the "western" Europe, but in fact are in the south-east). This is also little sense from a historical perspective: The region includes countries (eg Ukraine), who for decades belonged to the Soviet bloc, as well as those countries (eg Albania), which were marginally associated with the Union. In some of these countries there were stringent planning of the economy, in other versions were "local communism" (Hungary) or "self-governing socialism" (Yugoslavia). Being unreasonable is already in 1989. this label in general has become meaningless, because after the fall of communism the way these countries differed. Almost 30 mill, which once called communist, now have more differences than similarities. However, the name "Eastern Europe" includes not only a common destiny in a totalitarian regime, but also a lot of problems: severe history of time, ineffective leadership and the economic disaster now. The economic downturn has shown how misleading such an approach. Concerns about the "contamination" of the Latvian banking crisis led to an increase in risk premiums in stable under different circumstances, economies such as Poland and the Czech Republic - is nonsense, based on the perception by outsiders fears other unauthorized persons. In fact, the most severe financial difficulties currently facing Iceland and the largest budget deficits in the European Union is projected in the next year not weaken the ex-communist East, and in Britain and Greece. The new Athenian government is struggling with budget deficits of the size of at least 12.7% of GDP and, possibly, a maximum of 14.5%. This issue was discussed recently in Greece, the members of the European Commission.


None of the ten "Eastern" countries that joined the EU, is not in such a deplorable situation. There is also advanced workers, and conservatives, and quite modern place, and regions, reminiscent of past disturbances. For example, the Czech Republic and Slovenia reached the level of life, recorded in Portugal, the poorest country in the "western" camp. None of them was seriously affected by the economic downturn. Some ex-communist countries have a higher credit rating than the old EU members, and can take more than cheap credit. Slovakia and Slovenia joined the euro area, which is not done in Sweden, Denmark and Britain. Estonia - at least so it seems from outside - one of the least corrupt countries in Europe, which is easily ahead on this indicator founding members of the EU, such as Italy. It is divided into three categories. One of them includes five former autocratic republics of the Soviet Union, located in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). They can hardly be attributed to the "Europe", while a tenth of (the size of Britain), Kazakhstan (about 200,000 sq. km.) Situated directly in Europe. Also in Kazakhstan this year chairs the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe - a consultative body created after the Cold War (Vienna). However, none of the former Central Asian republics of the Soviet Union did not become a member of the Council of Europe (one more deliberative body and the guardian of human rights, Strasbourg). That's the problem. Definition of "Europe" as unreliable as the word "oriental".


All of these former Soviet republics differ from each other (Tajikistan - poor, a Kazakhstan - enterprising state). However, it is unlikely that even one of them will enter the EU in our era. Hence the second category: the potential members of the Union. This primarily includes unconditional candidates for membership, such as Croatia and other small states of the Western Balkans, for example, Macedonia. This category includes such problematic countries like Turkey and Ukraine, and even - in the long term, 20 years - four other former Soviet republics of Georgia, Moldova, Armenia and Azerbaijan (the latter possibly with the support of Turkey). The third and most difficult category - a group of 10 countries, formed in 2004. major merger, which was expanded in 2007. This group includes the exemplary citizens of the EU - the Estonians (recently hit by the crisis, real estate, but ready to receive this year's resolution to join the euro), Romania and Bulgaria, corruption and organized crime which, respectively, have already become a byword in Brussels . Eight of them (except for Romania and Bulgaria) have joined the Schengen Agreement. Most (except Poland) have agreed on the abolition of visas to America. All (unlike EU members - Austria, Cyprus, Ireland and Malta) are members of NATO.


Some concern still remains: a small country within or adjacent to the EU, and stronger among those who expect the membership or those to whom it does not shine. Missed because of its communist past and the possibility of key positions in international organizations still cause irritation (according to some, another consequence of defamatory label "Eastern Europe"). The negative legacy of the past, such as all-powerful secret agents and secret police files, provide an opportunity for blackmail and causing other damage, especially in countries with weak institutions. The powerful state security service in Lithuania, VSD, located in the center of political scandal, but a wave of concerns about lawlessness and foreign invasion swept from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Four countries - Poland and the Baltic countries - Russia is seriously concerned about revisionism (or revanchism). Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, too, are concerned, but more energy and economic security than military threat. However, in other countries, for example, in the former Yugoslavia, such fears are simply puzzling and seem to be paranoid.


And new and future members need capital. They all need a lot of foreign money (from the safes of the EU capital markets and through foreign bank loans) to bring the economy in accordance with the standards of the rest of the region. However, the admissibility of the category called "the new member countries, over time, definitely reduced. At Oxford University, there is still a "New College", whose name in 1379g. perfect to highlight it in the existing structure of the university. Now it looks a bit strange. The Poles, Czechs, Estonians and others hope sooner or later get rid of the epithet "new" to them could be judged on their merits, not the past.