This research project has been carried out for the Flemish government. The aim was to formulate policy recommendations for the Flemish policy towards the Central- and Eastern European Countries entering the EU in 2004 and 2007. These recommendations were drafted on the basis of desk research and interviews with Flemish actors, people from the CEECs, and individuals in other EU countries and regions (benchmarking study).

For the College of Europe, one full time researcher and one project manager were involved in the project, which was implemented together with the Centre for Regional Integration Studies of the United Nations University (UNU / CRIS) and with the University of Antwerp.

The research activities were carried out from May to October 2003, resulting in a detailed report (278 p. without annexes) that underpins the 10 final policy recommendations.