The EU and its neighbours Flashcards
European Neighborhood Policy - ENP
Developed from 2004. Deals with the immediate neighbors of the EU. Big expansion into central and Eastern Europe in 2004. Small move into the Mediterranean, Malta.
Avoiding new dividing lines between the EU and neighbors. Constructive and mutually supportive neighborhood.
Applies to the EU’s immediate members by land or sea. Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Ukraine.
2021-27 funding, 19.3 billion across these 16 countries.
Regional multilateral and cooperation initiatives.
Eastern partnership
Union for the Mediterranean
Renewed partnership with the southern neighborhood. New Mediterranean agenda.
Black Sea Synergy
EU Artic policy.
In the immediate aftermath of the Iraq war there is considerable friction. Countries start to champion the interests of their regions.
Union for the Mediterranean UFM
Relaunched in 2008 - aimed to insert vitality into process, increased visibility to citizens, and a commitment to tangible, regional and trans national projects. French driven.
General aims of furthering co-operation, political and socio-economic reform, and modernization on the basis of equality and mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty. make countries of the Mediterranean a more attractive place to live in.
‘An area of peace and stability in the Mediterranean’
EU assumptions
Concept of joint ownership - difficult reforms are easier to implement, there is greater stake in the arrangement with the EU.
EU ability to transpose model of liberties and welfare to neighboring countries. Countries totalitarianism in their history have consulted democracy - e.g. Spain. EU has a power of attraction to its neighbors.
Following the ‘European way’ will provide answers to the regions problems.
Problems for the EU
A zone of constant conflict, e.g. Israel/Palestine. Very hard to make union work during a period of war.
Different conceptions and priorities for European neighbors and the EU. The EU wants stability, Mediterranean countries want trade routes.
Political reforms seen as interference in sovereignty and the stability of UFM countries.
Existing conflicts and rivalries prevent much regional cohesion. There is no regional identity, yet it is defined by the EU as a region.
Differentiation is seen as a good thing, but results bound to be disparate and uneven (a fragmented ring of countries). A point driven by not all member states, but particularly the French.
5 Priority projects for the UFM (2021)
Environmental and Climate Action
Sustainable and inclusive economic human development.
Social inclusiveness and equality
Digital transformation
Civil protection
EU needs them to achieve this for success.
The Eastern Partnership EAP
Polish-Swedish imitative proposed in 2007. A reflection of enlargement. Not necessarily in the interests of established EU member states, such as France or the UK. Stabilize eastern Europe and raise the issue of enlargement. Poland - Expansion with neighbors like Ukraine.
Launched at the 2009 Prague Summit.
Reinforce and enhance ENP, as ‘regional co-operation imitative’
Treating Eastern Europe as a region in its own right from countries in North Africa and the Middle East.
Tailored to Eastern European countries seeking closer ties to the EU. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Equally problematic in exhibiting conflicts. Sensitive political zone, Russian borders. Russia regards as traditionally in its sphere of influence
Not Russia: ‘strategic partner’ based on four ‘common spaces’
Principles and aims of the EAP
Fundamental values - democracy, rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms.
Market economy
Sustainable development
Good governance
Differentiation and Conditionality
Four main aims:
Democracy, good governance, stability.
Economic integration, convergence with EU sectoral policies.
Energy security
Contracts between people
Revised and updated in July 2021.
Challenges of the EAP
Question of regional ownership; initiatives form an EU perspective. Increased emphasis on security based on emphasis on peace and stability.
Unclear EU strategy. Values, civilizational identity, or zone of conflicts.
Limited leverage. Balanced out by more pressing concerns.
Not a unified union. ‘ a group of countries with different interests and internal conflicts’
Russian aggression. Fear in eastern Europe. No progress with Belarus, but progress made in countries who fear Russia.
Reopens enlargement question. 2022 Ukraine and Moldova candidate status. But Turkey has had this since 1987, little certainty to whether Turkey will ever join.
