The European Neighbourhood Policy and Azerbaijan

Abstract

European Union enlargement expanded economic cooperation within the Union and increased its global political influence. However, without action, the EU could have found itself surrounded by democratic instability and weak economies. In order to maximise the opportunities and minimise the challenges that a new neighbourhood presents itself with, the EU created a diplomatic policy aimed at promoting stability, prosperity and security. Thus, this dissertation aims to define the scope of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) by elaborating on its implementation, while discussing its limitations. This is done by exploring the work done by one of the ENP partner countries, Azerbaijan. This dissertation also evaluates the ongoing relationship between the EU and Azerbaijan, discussing its history, starting from the Partnership Cooperation Agreement, and focusing on the bilateral agreements: the Action Plan, which is at the heart of the ENP, and the Single Support Framework (SSF), both of which are funded by the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI).

This dissertation makes use of qualitative elements of research and therefore focuses on gathering a significant amount of information pertaining to the ENP. It makes use of the case study method, as the research needed to be applied to Azerbaijan, and therefore an in depth review of the information was needed. Descriptive statistics in the form of info graphics are used throughout this dissertation to elaborate on the information gathered.

The ENP was reviewed twice in order to adapt to the current challenges of the Union and its neighbouring countries. Despite this being a positive outcome – as it proves that the policy can be flexible – it is also noted that the policy would have not actually been reformed unless the Union would have benefited from it. Therefore, it can be argued that even though this policy is aimed at the neighbouring region of the Union, it is not being realised to its full potential, as the ultimate beneficiaries should be the neighbouring states. This lack of focus by the Union could be the reason why these states are not fully committed to reforming their policies and abiding by European values and standards. On the other hand, it can also be argued that the EU is doing everything it can to incite partner countries to reform by using more differentiation in its priority areas; however it is them that find it hard to reform, as they are content with the status quo. This dissertation continues to work to identify the limitations of the ENP and proposes recommendations in a quest to ensure its validity and relevance as a diplomatic tool of the European Union.