Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, and Malta. These countries, considered to be the group of less-advanced candidates for membership, will therefore join the six so-called first wave countries. During the summit in December 10, 1999 Helsinki summit, leaders from the EU’s 15 member states approved a recommendation from the European Union’s Executive Commission to begin direct accession talks with six more candidates. At the summit was decided that the European Union should be ready to accept new members by the end of 2002 . The accession of Central and Eastern European countries to the European Union will have a profound effect on its relations with other countries, including Russia and other post-Soviet states. Moscow has already stated its position to the eastward enlargement of the EU: it has no important objections to the EU expansion and views greater integration within the EU as a stabilizing factor for the continent. EU expansion is currently debated in political and business circles in Russia. However, EU expansion did not become a rallying point for the opposition in the fight for voters, as happened with NATO expansion. Russian communist party leader Gennadii Zyuganov addressed a group of European Parliament members on January 28, 1999: “The enlargement of the EU toward the East is a positive and very important element. It is commendable that the EU can gain more influence and play a more important role in Europe and in the international arena in general.” In general, Russian political leaders have not expressed opposition to EU eastward expansion, since they believe it will bring stability to the region. At the same time the fear of negative economic effects of EU eastward enlargement are being debated in Russian political and business circles. In the past, Russian officials generally viewed EU expansion to the east in a more positive light. Some of the...
