On October 3rd, 1990, the new five East German Bundesländer joined the European Community (EC). This “enlargement” (1) of the EC was made possible by the historical, peaceful revolution in the East and the fall of the Berlin wall twenty years ago on November 9th, 1989. It changed the face and the political geography of re-unified Germany and of the EC internally regarding the power balance within the EC (with Germany now being the biggest member) and externally by opening up the EC’s old frontiers in the East to an unprecedented number of applicants for membership.
Lire la suite : Eastern Enlargement and the European Union: All Quiet on the “European Front”?



