INTRODUCTION 3
CHAPTER 1. THE ORIGINS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 5
1.1 The formation of the European Union 5
1.2 The institutional structure, goals and objectives of the European Union 10
1.3 The political development of the EU 13
CHAPTER 2. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OFTHE INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM 17
2.1 The European Council 17
2.2 The European Commission 19
2.3 The European Parliament 23
2.4 The Justice Court 25
CHAPTER 3. THE EU enlargement process 29
3.1 Parameters of the EU enlargement process 29
3.2 The EU enlargement process and the formation of the European political space 30
3.3 The EU enlargement to the East 36
3.4 The positive impact of enlargement 39
3.5 EU prospects for development 44
Conclusion 55
List of references 58