Following the dissolution of the authoritarian regime, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (which subsequently became the Czech Republic in 1993) underwent three pivotal processes: transformation, association (pre-accession), and accession to the European Union (EU). The present chapter focuses on the internal and external transition factors and preparation for full membership in the EU, emphasizing the role of pre-accession assistance in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria for accession and conditionality. The pre-accession assistance, embodied by PHARE, ISPA, and SAPARD, encompassed democratic and economic transition, promoting state, public, and private sector reforms, preparing the country’s adoption for acquis, developing infrastructures, and transforming the economy. The structures and personnel cultivated for pre-accession assistance were subsequently leveraged to access EU funds following 2004. The pre-accession aid catalyzed the transformation process in the Czech Republic, garnering favorable appraisals.