While dealing with the countries lying on the eastern rim of the European Union (Central and Eastern European Countries, South-Eastern European Countries and Ex-Soviet Republics), the EU pursues a policy of involvement through special arrangements and by keeping the option for full membership open which needs to be decided on the basis of these countries' future performance and the EU ability to absorb them. Since Gothenburg meeting in June 2001, it has been known that of all applicant countries only ten Eastern and Mediterranean nations are on the track to join the EU by rnid-2004. The EU will still continue offering those who are left out the appropriate instruments and forms of cooperation that aim at democratization, consolidation of the principles of rule of law and human rights. However, under the current circumstances this definitely won't be enough, especially in the post-September 11 world. Admitting ten countries will not eliminate all sources of conflicts in Europe. It will not bring the expected peace and prosperity to the Continent. The EU has to broaden its vision and should think of how it will shoulder the burden of the new, complex and demanding tasks in Europe, especially with the current shifting of America's attention to some other priority areas. Can a better, more structured and issue-based (creation of a regional model for security) BSEC- EU relationship help the EU in this sense?