Models of external differentiation in the EU's neighbourhood: an expanding economic community?

ABSTRACT

The neighbouring countries of the European Union (EU) have gradually developed ‘a stake’ in its internal market. This contribution asks to what extent and how the EU is expanding its economic community based on an analysis of the different neighbourhood models of deep economic integration, including current discussions about their future development. It shows that the EU's neighbourhood relations range from narrow, bilateral, static models to broad, multilateral, dynamic models and that a shift in this direction can be observed over time. The EU increasingly attempts to ensure market homogeneity beyond its borders by concluding agreements which include a dynamic adaptation to the evolving relevant acquis, its uniform interpretation as well as an independent surveillance and judicial enforcement.

KEY WORDS:

• Deep economic integration
• Economic Community
• European Economic Area
• European Neighbourhood Policy
• external differentiated integration
• internal market

Notes

1 The notion of ‘market power Europe’ views the internal market as the basis of the Union's identity, with three interrelated characteristics informing its ability to externalize market-related policies: the size of its market; its regulatory capacity; and the pressure by interest groups (Damro 2012: 686).

2 A more differentiated typology of mechanisms is suggested by Lavenex (2014). According to her classification, the focus here is on the direct, political-administrative action.

Additional information

Biographical note

Sieglinde Gstöhl is professor at the College of Europe, Bruges campus.