5th NORDIC-BALTIC CONFERENCE IN REGIONAL SCIENCE
GLOBAL-LOCAL INTERPLAY IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION
Pärnu, Estonia, October 1-4, 1998

Andreas P. Cornett, Soren Peter Iversen
Southern Denmark Business School
Grundvigsallé 150
DK-6400 Soenderborg
Tel.: +0045 7932 1111    Fax: +0045 7932 1292
E-mail: cornett@sb.hhs.dk, spi@sb.hhs.dk

The reintegration of the Baltic states in the European economic system is analysed in a dual perspective.

In the first part of the paper a hypothesis of ‘special relations’ between the Nordic countries and the three Baltic states will be scrutinized from a political and economic point of view. Special attention will be given to the promotion of a sustainable economic and political system internal in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.

The second part of the paper focuses on the de facto development of economic links (trade and FDI) within the Baltic Rim and in a European perspective. The distribution of FDI will be analysed according to origin and target country. Actual trade patterns are analysed and estimations of future potentials will be presented.

In the third part, the perspective is widened to include the Baltic States in a European perspective, main attention is given to the prospects of a future membership. The implications of an asynchronous membership of the EU for the three Baltic states will be discussed.

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