CONSEQUENCES OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION AND EASTERN PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.CHOSEN ASPECTS

Article presents results of research on impact of current economic crisis on economic and social development of the EU, Central and Eastern European and Eastern Partnership countries. Research was conducted with a goal of defining changes in basic economic concepts, their directions, dynamics and character. Comparative analysis method has been used with the use of three groups of indices (macroeconomic, social and environmental), in line with the approach represented in major program document of the EU, i.e. Europe 2020 Strategy. This will progress researchers in answers to the crucial questions of “if” and “how” will the crisis impact implementation of the. Analysis concerns period of 2000 – 2008 and is based mainly on Eurostat data. As effect of the research on the development trends in the above mentioned three groups of countries, as well as comparison of size of these changes, categorization of trends and conclusions for economic policy will be possible. Conducted analysis will allow a definition of discrepancies in crisis mechanisms in various groups of countries as well as factors differing countries of Western, Central and Eastern Europe in this respect. Results obtained in this research may serve as a basis for good practices in counteractions towards economic crisis.