Comparing EU Approaches to Eastern Europe and Central Asia

This contribution presents a comparative assessment of EU relations with Eastern neighbours (Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine) and former Soviet Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) in the period 1990-2013. It aims at showing main differences and similarities in EU approaches towards these two geographic areas in terms of how EU relations evolved, what are EU priorities towards each area and country, and what are main foreign policy instruments used by to EU to achieve its goals. The comparison will be done using the following dimensions of analysis at both regional and state level: (1) institutional links (which refer to the status and objective of regional and bilateral relations), (2) economic links (in terms of economic assistance by the EU, trade with its member states, and FDIs by its members states), and (3) conditionality (political, economic, and eventually acquis-related).