ABSTRACT
The enlargement of the European Union (EU) in 2004 has cleared the term "Eastern Europe" slightly. At the moment, probably the most popular but also straightforward way to define it is to associate the term with the countries covered by the Eastern Partnership initiative. Both Western and Central European perceptions of the "East" are based on a different depth of understanding and various political motivations. But they are common in regarding the "East" as a certain entity possessing a set of common features. The most evident differences are between "Euro-enthusiastic" countries like Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and "Euro-sceptic" Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus. At a sectoral level, the differences are tremendous; there are many success stories and failures. The EU continues operating with the term "East" and developing new programmes and initiatives that reflect the external perception of Eastern Europe rather than its genuine problems.
