THE EU AND ITS NEIGHBOURS Introduction – Seminar Class 1

Seminar Requirments

• Attendance requirment: 80% of classes i.e. you can miss 2 classes out of 10.

• 1 Presentation of 15 minutes in a group with other students.

• 1 out of 2 Colloquia.

Questions

• What is Europe?

• Who can join the European Union?

• What makes a state a ‘neighbour’?

• What makes a state a neighbour of the EU?

• Should Europe build ties with its neighbours?

• Why should Europe build ties with its neighbours?

• Shall Europe treat each neighbouring state in the same manner?

What is Europe?

• Geographical Concept?

• Historical Idea?

• Political Construction?

Who can join? Article 49 TEU

Any European State which respects the values referred to in

Article 2 and is committed to promoting them may apply to

become a member of the Union. The European Parliament and

national Parliaments shall be notified of this application. The applicant

State shall address its application to the Council, which shall act

unanimously after consulting the Commission and after receiving the

consent of the European Parliament, which shall act by a majority of its

component members.

The conditions of eligibility agreed upon by the European Council shall be taken into

account. The conditions of admission and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the

Union is founded, which such admission entails, shall be the subject of an agreement

between the Member States and the applicant State. This agreement shall be

submitted for ratification by all the contracting States in accordance with their

respective constitutional requirements.

Article 2 TEU

The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.

These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.

What makes a state a ‘neighbour’?Article 8 TEU

The Union shall develop a special relationship with neighbouring countries, aiming to establish an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, founded on the values of the Union and characterised by close and peaceful relations based on cooperation. (para. 1)

For the purposes of paragraph 1, the Union may conclude specific agreements with the countries concerned. These agreements may contain reciprocal rights and obligations as well as the possibility of undertaking activities jointly. Their implementation shall be the subject of periodic consultation.

Why should Europe build ties with its neighbours?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQREDQjfzC4

Value Exporter – Article 21(1)The Union’s action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles which have inspired its own creation, development and enlargement, and which it seeks to advance in the wider world: democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. The Union shall seek to develop relations and build partnerships with third countries, and international, regional or global organisations which share the principles referred to in the first subparagraph. It shall promote multilateral solutions to common problems, in particular in the framework of the United Nations.

Value Exporter – Article 21(2)The Union shall define and pursue common policies and actions, and shall work for a high degree of cooperation in all fields of international relations, in order to:

(a) safeguard its values, fundamental interests, security, independence and integrity;

(b) consolidate and support democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law;

(c) preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, with the principles of the Helsinki Final Act and with the aims of the Charter of Paris, including those relating to external borders;

(d) foster the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of developing countries, with the primary aim of eradicating poverty;

(e) encourage the integration of all countries into the world economy, including through the progressive abolition of restrictions on international trade;

(f) help develop international measures to preserve and improve the quality of the environment and the sustainable management of global natural resources, in order to ensure sustainable development;

(g) assist populations, countries and regions confronting natural or man-made disasters; and

(h) promote an international system based on stronger multilateral cooperation and good global governance.

Value Exporter – Article 21(3)The Union shall respect the principles and pursue the objectives set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 in the development and implementation of the different areas of the Union’s external action covered by this Title and by Part Five of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and of the external aspects of its other policies. The Union shall ensure consistency between the different areas of its external action and between these and its other policies. The Council and the Commission, assisted by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, shall ensure that consistency and shall cooperate to that effect. values, fundamental interests, security, independence and integrity;

Shall Europe treat each neighbouring state in the same manner? Or shall it make a difference? Depending on what criteria?

• Proximity?

• Resourses (oil, gas) and geopolitical relevance?

• Degree of respect of EU values?

• EU membership perspective?

• Willingness of a country to adopt EU laws and values?

Structure of the Seminar• European Economic Area• EU-Switzerland & EU-Microstates• Enlargement Process

- Stabilisation and Association Process

- Turkey (including northern Cyprus)• EU-Russia• European Neighbourhood Policy

- Southern Dimension

- Eastern Dimension• Any role for individuals?

Structure of the Group Presentations• Where is the county? Or where are the countries?

• Does the EU have a bilateral or multilateral approach towards the neighbour/neighbours?

• How did the relations between the EU and the neighbour/neighbours developed?

• What is the main legal act that regulates the relations between the EU and its neighbour/neighbours?

• What is the main aim of the legal act?

• What are the bodies responsible for implementing the legal act?

• Beside the main legal act, are there other instruments in place in order to implement the final aim of the relation between the EU and its neighbour/neighbours?

For ENLARGMENT and ENP• Historical background: why was the policy created?

• Aim of the Policy

• Instruments of the Policy

• What is the difference between the instruments?

• What are the actors?

• How does the policy function?

Surf the web… not for Facebook• European Economic Area: http://eeas.europa.eu/eea/

• EU – Switzerland: http://eeas.europa.eu/switzerland/index_en.htm

• EU – Micro-States http://eeas.europa.eu/andorra/index_en.htm; http://eeas.europa.eu/monaco/index_en.htm; http://eeas.europa.eu/liechtenstein/index_en.htm

 • Enlargement Policy: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/ • EU Russia: http://eeas.europa.eu/russia/index_en.htm

• European Neighbourhood Policy: http://eeas.europa.eu/enp/index_en.htm

http://eeas.europa.eu/enp/documents/strategy-papers/index_en.htm

 • Agreements concluded by the EU and its Member States with third countries

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/documents-publications/agreements-conventions/

http://www.giochi-geografici.com/giochi-geografia-Geo-Quizz-Europa-_pageid48.html