The European Community expressed a wish to expand to East-European areas as early as the late 1980s, when it was clear that the socialist bloc was going to collapse.
Euroopa Ühendus ilmutas soovi laieneda Ida-Euroopa aladele juba alates 1980. aastate lõpust, kui sai selgeks sotsialismileeri lagunemise protsessi pöördumatus.