ABSTRACT
The transition process following the collapse of communism throughout East Central Europe in 1989 has been described as a “return to Europe.” Nonetheless, by 2007 most East Central European countries along with the Baltic States had acceded to the European Union (EU). Only the western Balkans and most of the nations that were former Soviet republics have been left outside the expanded Union, and even for some of these, a road to future membership has been mapped out. The road to EU membership was longer and more arduous for the East Central European countries than it had been for Southern Europe. As the mainstream and governing parties in East Central Europe saw little option but to support accession to the EU no matter the cost, a number of political groups and leaders emerged that became rather outspoken in their criticism of European integration. The “return to Europe” by the countries of East Central Europe was one that confounded expectations.
