Dataset for <b>Comparing Europeanization in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe: Self-Contained or Exported Europeanization Is More Successful?</b>

<p dir="ltr">Europeanization in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) has shown different patterns. This paper compares how EU member states and official candidate countries in the region have gone through the Europeanization process, focusing on democracy, governance, and economic integration. Using a composite index and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) across 20 countries from 2004 to 2023, we identify structural patterns and the relative influence of each dimension. Case studies of Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Estonia, and Georgia reveal divergent national paths. Governance effectiveness emerges as the most stable and impactful pillar, while democracy remains volatile and shows different results. Economic integration proves resilient to political shifts, progressing steadily in both member and candidate states. The findings prove the greater efficiency of pre-accession conditionality in promoting reforms, compared to post-accession mechanisms. The increasing disconnection between economic integration and democratic consolidation reveals a fragmented Europeanization process.</p>