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Despite the ever growing body of scholarly work on policy developments in the post-communist New Member States of the European Union (NMS), systematic comparisons of policy outcome performance and its determinants are still scarce. This article identifies patterns of post-communist policy outcomes across the fields of economic, social and environmental policy. By employing pooled time-series cross-sectional analysis with a Fixed Effects Vector Decomposition (FEVD) estimator it investigates to what extent policy outcome performance is determined by differing policy efforts (outputs or reform tracks), transitional conditions and international influences. Although citizens are still negatively affected by the initial economic recession, especially in the social domain, policy reforms and efforts are decisive in determining the outcome performance of the NMS relative to one another in the longer run. Successful and comprehensive market reforms and steering capabilities prove to be particularly important in this regard. Furthermore, internationalisation has an important, albeit ambiguous, impact. While exposure to the world market is reflected in negative policy performance, interaction with and financial commitment from Western European Union countries promote positive policy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How has Europeanisation of environmental policy, as represented by the adoption of European Union (EU) biodiversity policies, influenced the agendas and repertoires of action employed by environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) in Hungary, Poland and Romania? The EU's environmental acquis gave ENGOs new and often forceful tools to reach their aims by emphasising the importance of collaborative relations between state and non-state actors and by offering opportunities to civil society actors to circumvent their national governments in the policy process. Implementation of the EU's Natura 2000 network in Hungary, Poland and Romania further reinforced endogenously driven professionalisation and institutionalisation of civil society groups. While EU accession benefited from the expertise of professional ENGOs, the logic of the accession process together with the weakness of both state actors and civil society has not led to the development of sustainable cooperative state-society relations in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the changes in political and environmental policies and related institutions as driven by eastern enlargement of the European Union (EU). Impact of the political changes on the rights and responsibilities of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) citizens; Effects of economic transitions on environmental politics, policy and quality; Information on the EU assistance provided for CEE countries.

Examines the implication of European Union (EU) accession for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) environmental transition. Information on capacity limitations in governmental, non-governmental and private sectors across CEE countries to meet the demands and requisites in the transition towards EU accession; Limitations of EU environmental policies; Importance of civil society and non-governmental organizations.

Discusses the possible implications of eastern Europe enlargement for European Union (EU) environmental policy from the applicant states' perspective based on the four Visegrád countries (V4). Domestic factors that influence the approach of V4 countries to EU environmental policy; Environmental policy institution relevant to EU accession according to experts interviewed in V4 and EU countries; Information on V4 international environmental strategies.

Discusses the impact of the accession of several Central and Eastern European countries in the European Union (EU) on the future environmental leadership and policy performance of the EU. History of European integration and enlargement; Economic differences in per capita levels of wealth among EU countries; Changes in EU environmental institutions and policy making procedures as a result of the expansion of the union.