ABSTRACT
Since some decades, processes of macro-regional integration are going on all over the world. Most of them look at European integration as their model. From several points of view, European integration was a spectacular success. First, never before has a large group of independent countries been able to go so far in developing close economic and political cooperation than the European Union. The common governing institutions provide the European Union with the character of a new political community. Second, this new community is highly attractive for the neighboring countries not only in Europe, but also in North Africa and the Near East. Since six nations have founded the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1956, six rounds of enlargement have taken place. The European Union now comprises twenty-seven members, more than half of all European countries, and about 70% of the continent’s population. Third, regional associations between states have been established all over the world, and many of them claim to follow the pattern of European integration.
