Recently, a new buzz word has appeared in official speeches in the field of the European UnionÕs external relations: ÒSoft powerÓ. The notion was first coined for American foreign policy and is now at the heart of EU foreign policy discourses, especially the European Neighbourhood Policy...

This paper analyzes Polish and Spanish proposals relative to the EUÕs Southern and Eastern Dimensions. Furthermore, plausible explanations are forwarded regarding the resemblances between SpainÕs and PolandÕs policies towards neighbourhood: the national interests considerations based on the...

Before enlargement, many experts expected that the functioning of most EU institutions would be severely affected by the accession of the ten new member states in 2004. Compared to these expectations, effects that actually occurred were relatively moderate. Especially in the Committee of...

Contrary to some previous assumptions, the enlargement did not halt the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) decision-making process in a substantial way. Rather it changed the dynamics within the working environment, preserving the importance of consensus-building practices in the Council...

Scholars have widely used the enlargement process as a foil for assessing both the nature and the potential influence of the ENP. In this paper, I attempt to show that the ENP-enlargement comparison is flawed by the fact that the two policies pursue different finalitŽ Ð association and...

The European Neighbourhood Policy has, from its very beginning, seized the attention of scholars and has remained high ever since on the academic agenda. Among the large number of publications already produced, many have analyzed ENP objectives, methods and influence through a comparison with EU...

The ENPÕs strong rhetoric in terms of the promotion of normative values, or Òmilieu goalsÓ, has stimulated an interest in the academic community for the argument that the EU is somehow a Ònormative powerÓ. This brief article will, however, sustain that the many contradictions inherent in...

The EU is approaching bordering countries offering them Òneighbourhood relationsÓ, but it fails short of taking into consideration how this concept may be perceived by its partners. This paper will propose a reconsideration of the term ÒneighbourÓ in the conviction that this operation is of...

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is often justified by references to its unprecedented emphasis on the Òcommitment to shared valuesÓ in future EU relations with its vicinity. Few attempts have been made, however, to critically reflect on the Òvalues dimensionÓ of the ENP. This article...

Specialised committees form an important part of the policy-making process in the European Union. After the 2004 enlargement of the EU, the institutional setup of these committees and the practice of Ôcommittee governanceÕ have been considerably challenged. The Open Method of Co-ordination...