Turning Presence into Power: Lessons from the Eastern Neighbourhood
As revolutions reverberate to the south, the ENP review has turned from a technical discussion to a matter of urgency and principle. However, Europe's problems are not only in the south: in its eastern flank, the EU faces creeping authoritarian consolidation and a recession in its influence. The ECFR brief argues that while the EU has never been as present in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus as now, it has been unable to turn that presence into power. The Union has failed to meet its most basic objectives on the issues that matter most - security and democracy. To reverse these trends, the EU needs to make its presence felt in the neighbourhood.
The authors call on the Union to overcome its timidity and technicality: Brussels should invest in high-visibility and populist policies to expand the circle of friends - those in the region who will directly benefit from their countries' closer association with the European Union. The EU should also become the voice of European business in the region through EU Chambers of Commerce that could lobby for reduced corruption and improved standards. To strengthen the local governments' capacity to transform their societies, the EU should strengthen its relationships with key governmental institutions, including interior ministries. However, the EU must be strict about the conditions it demands in exchange for visa free travel; one country meeting these conditions could accelerate reforms in others. In short, the EU must stick not only to the principle ofmore for more but also less for less: it should build a more transactional relationship with Eastern Partnership countries, based on mutual expectation, and engage in 'tough love' where necessary.