Hamburg's trade has profited from the dynamic effects of the European Common Market. In the following interview Dr Fahning, Director of the Hamburgische Landesbank-Girozentrale, gives his views on the importance of the EEC enlargement for the Hanseatic City.

The Central and East European transition countries are pinning considerable hopes for their economic future on entry into the European Union. However, given the huge amount of catching up they still have to do in economic terms, the tough entry conditions they have to meet and the limited amount...