The Proliferation of Privileged Partnerships between the European Union and its Neighbours

Description

This edited volume provides a timely analysis of the European Union’s ‘privileged’ partnerships with neighbouring countries, identifying key points of comparison. It analyses which policy areas are covered and why, the reasons why a specific institutional arrangement has been chosen, the major advantages and shortcomings for both sides and how effectively the privileged partnerships have worked in practice. Drawing on a number of case studies, the book highlights critical junctures and path dependence in the EU’s external relations and examines what general lessons can be drawn regarding privileged partnerships, in particular with a view to the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU. This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and practitioners in EU affairs, European politics, diplomacy studies, and more broadly to international relations and law. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of contributors Preface and acknowledgements List of abbreviations 1 Introduction: privileged partnerships between the European Union and third states Introduction: the proliferation of privileged partnerships What are privileged partnerships? Framework of analysis: a historical institutionalist perspective The demand for external differentiated integration: a historical perspective Outline of the volume Notes References 2 Privileged partnerships: the partner countries’ (institutional) perspective Introduction: principles of privileged partnerships A common EU approach under institutional aspects The EU’s theoretical benchmark … … checked against practice A special case: the EFTA states’ involvement in Schengen and Dublin Conclusions: a limited standardized approach to institutional arrangements Notes References 3 The European Economic Area: a flexible but highly complex two-pillar system The EEA – a brief overview The creation of the EEA The EEA’s two-pillar structure: EFTA states mirroring the EU Organizational inclusion of the EEA EFTA states in EU ‘decision-shaping’ Challenges to the EEA’s two-pillar structure Different modes of governance in the EEA Deepening of the EEA Lessons for privileged partnership with the EU Conclusions: is the EEA a model for other states? Notes References 4 Switzerland and the EU: current issues and new challenges under the Draft Institutional Framework Agreement Introduction Historical background to the DIFA Switzerland’s European policy and the main elements of the Bilateral Agreements between the EU and Switzerland Comparison between the Bilateral Agreements and the DIFA on institutional matters Conclusion Notes References 5 Unique, yet archetypal: relations between the European Union and Andorra, Monaco and San Marino Introduction: the Western neighbourhood of the EU ‘Extended but fragmented’: an overview of current EU–AMS relations Towards a new ‘special relationship’? Conclusion: unique, yet archetypal relations Notes References 6 The institutional framework of the Eastern Partnership Association Agreements and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas Introduction Background and conceptualization of the AAs and DCFTAs Legal bases and objectives Legislative approximation Institutional frameworks and dispute settlement procedures Ensuring the uniform interpretation and application of the EU acquis Conclusion: innovative but not revolutionary agreements Notes References 7 The EU–Turkey customs union: shortcomings and prospects for modernization Introduction: a customs union as a sustainable form of privileged partnership? Building an association relationship: the Ankara Agreement and beyond The institutional shortcomings of the customs union The EU’s new trade strategy and how Turkey has lost its position as a privileged partner Political prospects for a modernization of the customs union Conclusion: a modernized customs union as via media between political commitment and economic privilege Notes References 8 The EU’s sectoral communities with neighbours: the case of the Energy Community Introduction: a sectoral privileged partnership The geographic scope and the objectives of the Energy Community The substantive scope of the Energy Community Treaty The institutional structure of the Energy Community Enforcement of Energy Community law Other sectoral communities: the European Common Aviation Area and the Transport Community Conclusion Notes References 9 UK withdrawal from EU membership: the quest for cake Introduction: from membership to privileged partnership? The UK position on post-Brexit relations with the EU – a naïve quest for cake? The EU: baking according to the EU recipe book Conclusion Notes References 10 Conclusion: the EU and its privileged partnerships – Governance Power Europe? Introduction: the proliferation of privileged partnerships The scope of privileged partnerships The institutional dimensions of privileged partnerships Theorizing the proliferation of privileged partnerships Lessons for future privileged partnerships Conclusion: Governance Power Europe Notes References Index