One of the leading scholars on the European integration, Ernst B. Haas defined integration as a process “whereby political actors in several, distinct national settings are persuaded to shift their loyalties, expectations and political activities toward a new centre”. The end result of a process of political integration is a “new political community, superimposed over the pre-existing ones”. Political integration is usually identified with the emergence of a political community based on trust, loyalty and shared values. On the basis of Haas’ definition, it is both useful and necessary to differentiate between the sub-dimensions of political integration below:

• Policy integration
• Institutional integration
• Civilizing/security dimension
• Attitudinal dimension