From Communism to European Governance

The fall of communism promised a new era of European governance – open, accountable, efficient administration – across Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. Three decades later, that promise feels yet to be fulfilled. From Communism to European Governance traces why. The book reconstructs the genesis, institutionalisation, and implementation of the European Commission’s support for domestic administrative reform in Romania (EU member), Serbia (EU candidate), and Moldova (EU neighbour), from 2000 to 2020. The findings challenge both optimistic narratives of EU-driven transformation and sceptical claims of external impotence. While EU engagement has strengthened legal frameworks, strategic planning, and administrative capacity, the depth and sustainability of reform depend on domestic ownership, credible incentives, and the resilience of political commitment. At a moment when EU enlargement has returned to the centre of European geopolitics, this is an essential read for scholars and policymakers engaged in governance reform across Europe and its neighbourhood.