30 years have passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall and former communist countries from Central and Eastern Europe took the path to (re)democratization. The process of EU accession began initially with enthusiasm and optimism in the early 1990s, as it was seen as paving the way towards a united, democratic Europe. However, the EU has faced and is facing both internal and external challenges which put into question the very idea of liberal democracy. Increasing cleavages and conflicts on complex issues (economic convergence, security and migration) have resulted in sharpening divisions between North and South, East and West.
