Shaping the Neighbourhood? The EU's Impact on Georgia

Author: Pardo Sierra Oscar B.  

Publisher: Routledge Ltd

ISSN: 1465-3427

Source: Europe-Asia Studies, Vol.63, Iss.8, 2011-09, pp. : 1377-1398

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

Drawing on the literature of EU governance in its neighbourhood, this article investigates the EU's impact on Georgia by examining the following policies regarding EU–Georgia relations during the period 2004–2008: single market access; energy security; and foreign and security policy. It argues that policy-level incentives and the overall process of deepening relations with the EU are necessary conditions for the EU to make an impact. However, the EU-promoted rules and norms are key conditions for EU impact and for understanding whether they are adopted or not. The case of Georgia shows the limits of the EU's normative power. Geopolitical pressures and alternative models of development present a challenge for EU impact.