Two Perceptions, One Policy: Diverging Idea's on EU's external power in the making of the European Neighbourhood Policy

Abstract

This thesis explores the role of diverging ideas on EU’s external power in the making of the European Neighbourhood Policy in the period 1999-2004. The focus is on EU decision and policy makers, i.e. the political leaders of the member states, the EU Commissioners and the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy. The conclusion of the study is that the political leaders followed a neorealist logic in constituting the ENP. For the Commission, the ENP provided a windows of opportunity to conceptually reshape relations in world politics. The central objective of the Commission was to bring the process of integration beyond the borders of the EU.In this the Commissioners, lead by Commissioner Prodi, followed a functionalist and normative logic.