Rethinking Conditionality: Incentivising Integration Across Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Section Chair: Eamonn Butler, Lecturer in Central and East European Studies, University of Glasgow. Eamonn’s recent research addresses CEE energy relations. He coordinates the Europe-wide research network, 'Assessing Accession - Central and Eastern Europe in the EU', which examines how recent EU enlargements have impacted institutional and policy development, influenced engagement with the former Soviet Republics and informed debates on European integration. Section Co-Chair: Luca Anceschi, Lecturer in Central Asian Studies, University of Glasgow. Luca’s research interests focus on the Politics and International Relations of post-Soviet Central Asia. His current research examines Kazakhstani foreign policy-making. Abstract: Historically, EU external governance has drawn upon the concept of ‘conditionality’ to inform the speed and direction of integration. In Central, Southeastern and (some parts of) Eastern Europe, conditionality has been conventionally associated with EU membership prospects. In contexts where EU membership is not on the agenda (Russia/Eastern Partnership States, the Caucasus, and Central Asia), conditionality emerged as a less valuable EU tool for incentivising engagement. By presenting coordinated partnership as an alternative to membership, the EU redefined the role that conditionality played in its relations with this latter group of states. Ultimately, this policy aims to lead states towards closer EU association and deeper economic integration with the EU’s internal market. This section seeks to re-engage with the ‘conditionality’ concept, by examining how its perception has been modified by recent enlargements and EU approaches to cooperation/integration with its wider neighbourhood. The section will be structured around four inter-related ‘thematic platforms’: (1) democracy, good governance and stability; (2) economic integration and convergence; (3) energy security and (4) contacts between people. These issues will be examined at first vis-à-vis members, candidate, and EaP states. Further, the section will assess how these platforms transferred to politico-economic engagement with non-EaP states, including Russia and Central Asia.