This is to add to the discussions already taking place with the central eastern countries: Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, together with Estonia.
Plus Malta was added to Cyprus.
In terms of the map this broadly envisages an extension of the EU sphere of influence to the borders of the old Soviet Union, with the exception of Albania and the countries of the former Yugoslavia.
>From one point of view this is an extension of imperialism and the new
arrivals will be in a subordinate position perhaps not granted the full
rights of membership for some time.
>From another point of view it is an extension of the tendency of monopoly
capitalism to larger markets. I think both aspects have an element of truth.
The former Yugoslavia would need a very robust model of socialism, to be able to defy these pressures for assimilation into the larger European supermarket.
Chris Buford
London