This book investigates the complex political, economic, and institutional processes that facilitated the Eastern enlargement of the European Union following the end of the Cold War. John O'Brennan, a scholar of European integration, utilizes a tripartite analytical framework to evaluate how the EU managed the integration of Central and Eastern European countries. By synthesizing empirical data with institutional analysis, the author provides a comprehensive account of the negotiations, geopolitical motivations, and normative shifts that defined this historic expansion.

Experts frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the structural mechanics of EU expansion. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which makes it a primary resource for students and researchers of European integration.