The ENP and the EU’s Eastern Neighbours: Ukraine and Moldova as Test Cases

Abstract

The eastern neighbours of the enlarged EU have provided an important impetus for the conception and ongoing formulation of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). Ukraine and, to some extent, Moldova have defined the shape and pace of the ENP. Both countries have declared EU membership their strategic objective, and they are trying to turn the ENP into a step toward that goal — against the initial intentions of the EU. Thus, Ukraine and Moldova are putting not only the overall scope of the policy to the test, but also the procedural similarity between the ENP dynamics and the accession process. This chapter tries to address the following, as yet underexplored, questions. Does the ENP shape the domestic politics of ENP countries? If so, how is the ENP framed, articulated and channelled?