The Eastern enlargement of the European Union in 2004 alongside the accession in 2007 of Bulgaria and Romania into the European Union has paved way for a historical shift of the Union , emergence of new borders, and emergence of new relations and policies towards new neighbours.
Despite the fact that the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) might be considered as a foreign policy instrument, what seems unknown and less considered is the cost of relationship, intent of the European Union (EU) in relations with new members, interest of both sides, security and stability alongside economic and democratic space. The ENP consolidates the opinion that the limits of Europe is increasingly evasive; the thesis therefore aims at considering or analyzing the EU relations in the view of its implications stemming from the ENP policy toward Ukraine as a member of the ENP.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Purpose/Research Questions
1.3 Methodology
1.4 Theoretical framework
1.5 Chapter Organization
2. European Foreign Policy Discourse
2.1 Discourse of the European Neighbourhood Policy
2.1.2 Neighbourhood Politics
2.1.3 Revival of geopolitics
2.1.4 Geostrategies of the ENP
2.1.5 Social Construction of Neighbourhood and Norm Reception
2.2 The Eastern Dimension and Ukraine
2.3 Security Sector Governance in the Neighbourhood
2.3.1 European Union energy security in the neighbourhood
2.4 Summary
3. Changes in European Foreign Policy
3.1 Changes in European Foreign Policy
3.1.1 Institutional changes
3.1.2 Enlargement as foreign policy tool and the ENP
3.2 Rational Actors
3.2.1 Ukraine –EU relations
3.2.2 Russia
3.3 Ukraine as a regional actor; too weak to escape Russia?
3.4 Summary
4. The Return of History
4.1 The Return of History
4.1.1 Creation of Energy Dependencies
4.2 The Centre –Periphery argument
4.2.1 Benefits and cost- Centre –Periphery argument
4.3 Direct Involvement in Neighbourhood Crises and Politics?
4.3.1 Investment in the neighbourhood
4.3.2 Security and Border Control Dimension
4.4 Schengen border code
4.5 Schengen Information Systems. (SIS)
4.6 Visa Facilitation Regime
4.7 Pockets of Conflicts surrounding Ukraine
5. Conclusion
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The thesis aims to analyze the geopolitical implications of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) with a specific focus on the relationship between the European Union and Ukraine, investigating whether this policy functions as a transformative instrument or a strategic geopolitical tool given the Russian factor and energy dependence.
- Regional versus global geopolitical implications of the ENP
- The impact of energy politics and dependence on EU-neighbourhood relations
- The "Us and Them" matrix and the concept of Europe's borders
- Rational actor analysis in the context of Ukrainian political dynamics
- Security sector governance and border control challenges
Extract from the Book
1.1 INTRODUCTION
With a shared border, diverse level of economic and political development alongside the diversities in culture and history. The European Union is continually and consciously alerted of the new neighbours bordering new members. The argument of the role of the European Union revolves in between a Westphalian Structure, neo-medieval empire and a geopolitical strategy shaping spheres of influence in Global politics.
While enlargement, extension of the normative power of the European Union and a new global strategic positioning in global politics is a disguised function or rationale of the ENP.
From the design of the ENP and what the policy main strength is; it is notable that neighbours are guaranteed more economic integration ,something similar to the European Economic Area(EEA) with basic tenets of the fundamental freedoms inclusive; freedom of persons, goods, services and capital in a long term (Aliboni 2005, Landaburu 2006, Gromadzki 2008).
In the same vein , it must be noted that the previous EU initiatives of regional and inter-regional cooperation has intensified or reiterated economic integration , greater integration into an economic zone which in some sense guarantees co-prosperity of the neighbours which are in turn expected to intensify on reforms that would pave way for domestic structural stability and inter-state relations.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter establishes the foundation of the thesis, outlining the research objectives, methodology, theoretical framework, and the structure of the work.
2. Literature Review: This section provides an academic overview of the European Foreign Policy discourse, examining the development of the ENP, geopolitics, and the Eastern Dimension in relation to Ukraine.
3. Changes in European Foreign Policy: This chapter analyzes the evolution of EU foreign policy, the institutional changes from EPC to CFSP, and the role of enlargement as a policy instrument.
4. The Return of History: This chapter explores the geopolitical mission of the ENP, focusing on the creation of energy dependencies, the centre-periphery dynamics, and the security challenges in the neighbourhood.
5. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the research findings, highlighting the vulnerability of the ENP and the persistent influence of the Russian factor in neighbourhood relations.
Keywords
European Neighbourhood Policy, ENP, European Union, Ukraine, Geopolitics, Energy Security, Eastern Enlargement, Foreign Policy, Rational Choice Institutionalism, Securitization, Russia, Centre-Periphery, Soft Imperialism, Border Control, Regional Integration
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the geopolitical implications of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), specifically analyzing how this policy shapes the EU's relations with its eastern neighbours, using Ukraine as a primary case study.
What are the central thematic fields of the thesis?
The thesis covers European foreign policy discourse, the role of energy security, the geopolitical impact of Russian influence, and the dynamics of security sector governance within the European neighbourhood.
What is the main research question of the work?
The research asks: What are the implications and benefits of the EU relations under the ENP policy with specific reference to Ukraine, considering the regional and global geopolitical consequences?
Which scientific methods are utilized in this study?
The study adopts a qualitative research method, drawing upon journals, articles, textbooks, and official EU documents, as well as publications from prominent research institutions like the EUISS and CEPS.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body examines the evolution of European foreign policy, the theoretical framework of Rational Choice Institutionalism, the strategic role of energy in regional stability, and the practical challenges of border control and visa facilitation.
Which keywords characterize this thesis?
Key terms include European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), energy security, Russian factor, regional integration, geopolitical implications, and security sector governance.
How does the author characterize the 'Russian Factor'?
The author characterizes the Russian factor as a critical variable in regional stability, noting how Russia leverages its energy dominance and strategic economic ties to maintain influence over former Soviet states, thereby complicating the EU's normative goals.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the ENP's effectiveness?
The author concludes that the ENP currently appears insufficient in preventing neighbours like Ukraine from remaining within the Russian sphere of influence, largely due to the weak institutional development of these states and the strategic use of the 'energy weapon' by Russia.
- Quote paper
- Patrick Agbedejobi (Author), 2010, The Geopolitical Implications of the European Neighbourhood Policy., Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/201530
