Integration or Imitation? EU Policy towards its Eastern Neighbourgs

Summary:

The European Union's policy towards the six post-Soviet countries, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, has entered a new phase since 2004. These countries, in becoming the immediate neighborhood of the EU, found themselves the focus of an integration policy. However, this policy de facto includes no membership offer, even with regard to the European partners. Although this has not been stated explicitly, many facts indicate that the EU‟s intention has been to determine the final Eastern borders of the European Community in a „soft‟ way, i.e. while minimizing economic and political divides.

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