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Due to the economic performances of the organization, its attractiveness index increased. Certain countries, among which United Kingdom too, demanded the integration into Community. Meanwhile the Community as such gained a significant experience and recorded enough progresses in order to feel the need of extension; extension which enlarged in fact, the internal market.

After 1970's it took place what was called "the North extension". In 1972 Ireland and Denmark integrate to CEE and in 1975 United Kingdom did the same thing. So, "little Europe" as it was called CEE when it had only six members, becomes the 9 - country Europe.

In the next decade "the South extension" develops, and afterwards the following countries join the CEE: Greece (in 1981), Spain (in 1986) and Portugal (in1987).

In the 1990's it recorded other changes of the Community. The enlargement process continues, but it gets a more political hint. This thing is also reflected by the new name of European Union. Set up in 1 November 1993, this denomination marks also the day in which the Maastricht Treaty became to be fulfilled, which proposed the monetary integration, the promotion of an external and defense common policy, the co-operation of the social policies and enlargement of the European citizenship concept (from this point on the citizens of the Union' s member states can circulate either with national or European passport).

The acceleration of the European construction also takes place under the impact of Germany reunification which speeded up not only economical but also political and even military integration process. 

After the Cold War ended and the social system fell, it appeared a new political situation against which the Union could adopt no position. It took place an accelerated process of enlargement, which had two stages. In the first stage, developed countries with a mature democracy join the Community, such as Austria (in June 1994), Finland (in October 1994) and Sweden (in November 1994). Europe becomes the 15-country Europe. Practically with two exceptions: Norway and Switzerland it includes all the continent states which had not belonged to socialist system. With the integration of these three countries, Europe increases considerably its geographic area, its economical weight and its political influence. 

The second stage it refers to a more complex and long process of the former socialist states' integration. In this phase the things became complicated because the development level of these countries is much more modest. At the same time these countries have a geographic territory which with its stretch, richness and position is extremely important for Europe as a whole. If until now the process was economically prevailing, now it becomes more geopolitical.
The space of the former socialist countries isn't at all to be neglected for an Europe which wants to assert itself and to be powerful enough to discuss from equal to equal with the others two great economical regions of the world represented by North-American continent and Asia-Pacific zone. Because of this the relationship the Union with these countries must be understood also from the point of Europe's pressure in the economical competition with other power centers. If we judge the things on long term, these countries are a great temptation. They have a geographical and geopolitical position which one can not leave aside, they represent a great market: their population has over 100 millions inhabitants if we take into account the states which are not in the Soviet area. Such a market can't be neglected by any extending power.

European Union is in a paradoxical situation. Politically she is tempted to open widely the gates for the new applicants but economically it can not do this because, including countries less prepared it risks to diminishing its own speed of advance and lose time and position already gained in the geopolitical race of today's world. John T. Rourke summarized very well this situation in "International Politics on the World Stage": "there will not be countries inside and outside the Union, but members states and others which will expect to become one".