| It is argued in this article that the enlargement processes of the two major institutions of the West significantly affect the 'externalities' of the Baltic Sea area, and that this area should therefore be understood as a European subregion rather than as a distinct region.Whereas the extent of institutional adaptations of the European Union and NATO since the end of the East-West conflict is impressive, both enlargements are also creating new problems. In the case of the EU, its homogeneity and the functioning of its institutions promise to be stretched to their very limits, particularly given the tendencies towards 'opting out' of the aquis in several EU member states of the Baltic Sea area. Concerning NATO, the author recognizes the irony that the new members hoped to join the 'old alliance', while in reality this has already undergone transformation from a defence body to an institution dealing primarily with out-of-area problems. For both the enlarged EU and NATO the 'partnership' with Russia is more a modus vivendi than a clear perspective for the future and there is a need for further adapations on both sides. |