In person icon The EU, its institutions and member states changing leadership in democracy support for neighbourhood countries after Russian war of aggression

Abstract

The EU's support for democracy in its neighbourhood was a priority for years and a crucial element of the EU’s normative power. Currently, however, it is undergoing significant changes in response to the growingly unstable international system and the aggressive behaviour of EU’s adversaries. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine resulted in significant reconfigurations within the EU. The EU institutions such as the European Commission, the European Parliament as well as EU member states are employing various strategies toward supporting democracy in partner countries despite worsening security conditions. The best example is the reinvigorated enlargement process with membership offer for Ukraine and Moldova and focused attention on Western Balkan countries. On the other hand, the reflection is necessary on how to rethink and strengthen the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and efforts to maintain partner countries’ commitment to democracy, particularly in the Southern neighbourhood when the EU’s attention focuses on the East. EU’s democracy support aims, content and preferred geographical directions vary among the EU institutions and EU member states (Godfrey and Youngs 2019). Divergent interests in the EU neighbourhood drive the policy. In addition, there is growing domestic contestation of democracy support and visible shifts toward a very pragmatic orientation regarding engagement with partner countries within the EU institutions and among EU member states. The proposed panel gathers contributions discussing the current state of play within the EU and its partners as regards democracy support within two key policies: EU enlargement and ENP. The papers will discuss various actors within democracy support such as the President of the European Commission, selected member states as well as key themes that are raised and used in their leadership agendas such as gender equality.

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Regional leader or laggard in the field? Polish democracy support for Eastern neighbours	View Paper Details
Italy's Visions for Democracy Support in the European Neighbourhood: Review, Assessment, and Prospects	View Paper Details