Enlargement without Membership Perspectives?

A theoretical approach on the reasons for participating in the European Neighbourhood Policy

Academic Paper , 2018 , 14 Pages , Grade: 7,5 (Niederländisches System)

Politics - Topic: European Union

The significance of the Eastern European area for the European Union has become visible with the Eastern enlargement in 2004.
Ever since then the question remains how to interact with the bordering neighbor countries. This paper aims to examine the
European Neighbourhood Policy from a rationalist-constructivist perspective. Furthermore, parallels between the decision-making
process for the Eastern enlargement will be drawn by paying special attention to Frank Schimmelfennig's contributions to the
issue. I conclude that despite the absence of accession talks, a potential future accession perspective displays the highest
incentive for Eastern neighbors to participate in the ENP and that there is a possibility for renegotiating accession by making use of rhetorical action.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Rationalist, sociological institutioalism or both?
• Summary of The EU, NATO and the Integration of Europe - Rules and Rhetoric

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper analyzes the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) from a rationalist-constructivist perspective, drawing parallels to the decision-making process of the Eastern enlargement. It examines the reasons for Eastern European countries to participate in the ENP, considering the potential for future accession.

• The role of the European Neighbourhood Policy in promoting cooperation between the EU and its Eastern neighbors.
• The impact of the ENP on individual Eastern European countries.
• The theoretical framework of rationalist institutionalism and sociological institutionalism as applied to the ENP.
• The significance of rhetorical action in shaping EU policy decisions.
• The potential for future accession for Eastern European countries participating in the ENP.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The introduction sets out the paper's objective to explore the ENP from a theoretical perspective, drawing on the work of Frank Schimmelfennig. It introduces the central question: why did Eastern European countries decide to participate in the ENP, despite lacking accession perspectives?
• The chapter titled "Rationalist, sociological institutionalism or both?" provides a summary of Schimmelfennig's book "The EU, NATO and the integration of Europe - Rules and Rhetoric." It highlights the key arguments of the book, namely that the Eastern enlargement was driven by both rationalist and sociological institutionalist factors, with rhetoric playing a significant role in shaping the decision-making process.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper focuses on the European Neighbourhood Policy, Eastern Enlargement, rationalist institutionalism, sociological institutionalism, rhetorical action, and the European Union. It investigates the theoretical underpinnings of the ENP and the incentives for Eastern European countries to participate in this policy framework.

• College: University of Groningen
• Course: Capita European Integration
• Grade: 7,5 (Niederländisches System)
• Author: Elena Mertel (Author)
• Publication Year: 2018
• Pages: 14
• Catalog Number: V498130
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346013972
• ISBN (Book): 9783346013989
• Language: English
• Tags: European Neighbourhood Policy, ENP, Schimmelfennig, Eastern Enlargement, Rationalist Institutionalism, Sociological institutionalism, European Union, Rhetorical Action