The Impact of the Shallow Europeanisation of the ‘New’ Member States on the EU’s Actorness: What Coherence between Foreign and Development Policy?

Abstract

This chapter tackles the internal dimension of the EU’s actorness in global development by applying the concept of Europeanisation to the development policy of the European Union.¹ It pays special attention to the so-called ‘new’ member states of the Union. So far, their combined Official Development Assistance has not exceeded two per cent of that of the ‘old’ member states, and therefore their part on the global role of the EU may seem marginal.² This is only understandable given their starting position and a focus on their own economic growth and welfare. However, the 2004 and 2007 enlargements have increased the number of the EU citizens by one quarter and almost doubled the number of member states. By their sheer presence in the European institutions and with their growing emancipation during the first years of accession, the ‘new’ member states have started and will continue to shape the community’s behaviour at home and abroad. This chapter explores hence the coherence between both the experienced and new actors on the donor scene as well and it assesses the effect of the enlargement on the EU’s capacity to formulate an effective global development policy towards the South.