Theoretical relevances of our integration maturity

Integration theories generally analyse five major dimensions of the process, namely, the following: • the contents (essence) of integration processes; • fundamental organisational forms and institutions of integration; • integration policies (regulation), issues of governance; • benefits and drawbacks of integration; • integration maturity (integration capacities). For a long time, the literature of integration assigned key importance to the forms of integration and the cost-benefit analysis for practical reasons. With the progress and completion of the integration process, however, issues of governance also assumed a growing need for a solution. With regard to the development of the single market and the economic union, as well as the eastern enlargement, the issue of integration maturity has also been added to the agenda starting from the 1990s.