(T103)
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) - The Metamorphosis of the Business Climate



The expansion of the European Community in May 2004 to include ten new members, primarily from Central and Eastern Europe, has been one of the most significant changes in European Union (EU) history. It has been the fifth and most important enlargement of the EU, adding approximately 75 million people to the Single Market. CEE countries operated under a communist-based centrallyplanned economy, and all continue to struggle while making the transition to a market economy. A cross-section of experienced travel industry experts will outline the commercial and travel management challenges in CEE, and will describe the political and economic landscape of the region, and special issues travellers face, from language barriers to safety threats.