Masaryk university

4.4.2 Qualitative analysis of the documents

Joint Declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit. Prague, 7 May 2009

This is a founding document that comprises a broad set of principles and goals for cooperation. Yet the document does not specify particular projects, actions and donors to be utilized. But from the very beginning the EU lavels this new initiative as “more ambitious”and foremost, it links the ambiotions with the strong emphasis on values and principles. (Council of the European Union 2009: 5). Futher the document specifies what particluarl principles it seeks to promotoe. First of all, the document prioritizes commitments to the principles of international law and to fundamental values including democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. These values serve as a basis for the new initiative.

In addition, Prague Declaration sets up main areas of cooperation where “Democracy, good governance and stability” is categorized into a specific foreground domain. Analysing this Declaration is also worthwhile, in terms of finding normative goals: “The main goal of the Eastern Partnership is ... to accelerate political association and further economic integration …” (Council of the European Union 2009: 6). As for the mechanisms of diffusion of values, the EU highlights cooperative approach grounded on shared ownership and various dialogues and exchanges which aim to approximate practices and regulations to European models. The document does not leave out economic cooperation. But the economic prosperity is linked to the poltical reforms.


Implementation of the Eastern Partnership: Report to the meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers, December 13, 2010.

The document in general consists of 3 parts. First part overviews overall activities, developments and achievements of the EaP. While the first part is largely dedicated to reform programs of different domains including negotiations on DCFTA, Association Agreements, visa facilitation and in the energy sector, a separate chapter is devoted to issues of human rights. It is highlighted that priority of “shared values of democracy, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms” define the very foundation of the EaP (European Commission 2010: 3). However, the main focus here is put solely on the human rights within the framework of bilateral negotiations. As a tool for bringing about the change in this area the EaP prefers “bilateral dialogues on Human Rights”.

Further the document specifies “country by country developments”. Heterogeneous character of states and their differing political interest are reflected more explicitly in this part through the distribution of normative principles by countries. The document mentions “freedom” in Armenia, “freedom…, democratization and human right issues” in Azerbaijan included into the agenda of respective PCA subcommittees (European Commission 2010: 4). In case of Belarus, however, the document applies more conditional rhetoric linking possible increase of financial allocations to “significant progress in the area of human rights”. The only indication of normative principles in the part regarding to Ukraine is “core values of freedoms”.

The document is also supplemented with a list of thematic platforms underlying multilateral track of the EaP. However, these platforms cover a wide spectrum of technical assistance programs and do not provide the sought normative indicators, except the replication of “open dialogue and the exchange of best practices” as a mechanism of achieving ends (European Commission 2010: 7).

Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2010 Report: Eastern Partnership.

By the structure document resembles previous edition. Indication of normative values encounters in the subchapter assigned to “Strengthened Human Rights Dialogues” which states that “adherence to shared values of democracy rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms provides the foundation of the Eastern Partnership” (European Commission 2011a: 5). It continues with country scoped Human Rights Dialogue meetings held so far. One of the aims of the first thematic platforms is the promotion of democratic principles. However, the analysis of the content of the platform illustrates specific areas where this principle is applied – “integrated border management, judiciary and public administration”. Next reference to normative values is made in regard to Euronest which is envisaged “to promote democratic reforms, the rule of law and good governance” (European Commission 2011a: 11). Generally, in comparison with previous “Implementation” from 2010, it contains less references to normative values that we aim to find and has more detailed description of technical assistance projects which have indirect impact on the achievement of normative goals.

Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit, Warsaw, 29-30 September 2011

The Declaration reaffirms the goals of the founding Prague Declaration with the aim to achieve political association and economic integration. Furthermore, it vests the guiding role to “principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law” lying on the basis of the Eastern Partnership (Council of the European Union 2011:1). Hence, the EU pledges to assist in building “deep and sustainable democracy”. But here the document makes emphasis on those partners who made “the European choice” (Council of the European Union 2011: 1). This document compared to previous ones, more explicitly reveals the application of conditionality mechanism as an instrument of cooperation: “partners most engaged in reforms will benefit more from….increased EU support….for strengthening respect for human rights and the rule of law”. (Council of the European Union 2011: 2). Such formulation generates from the principle of “greater differentiation” accentuated in the document and exercised to meet the partners’ capacities and aspirations.

Indications of normative goals generally have implicit character throughout the document. But we can derive them from the context of the Declaration: “building a common area of democracy, prosperity, stability and increased interactions and exchanges”. The formulation here points not only to goal of democratization, but also provides an example of a normative tool – “increased exchanges” (Council of the European Union 2011: 2). In terms of normative values and means the document emphasizes the role of civil societies in “support of democracy, good governance and the rule of law”. Thus, Civil Society Forum, along with Dialogues mentioned in previous documents, are considered to be diffusing instruments promoting democratic values.

Another signs of normative approach appear in a separate chapter dedicated to Belarus. In this case the EU expresses “concern at the deteriorating human rights, democracy and rule of law situation in Belarus”. Here we also can trace conditionality elements as long as the EU “reiterates that a deepening [of relations] is conditional on the progress towards respect for democracy, the rule of law and human rights” (Council of the European Union 2011: 2).

Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2011 Regional Report: Eastern Partnership.

It is notable that from the very beginning this document refers to normative principles, although by expressing disappointment over "regression in democracy, the rule of law and human rights" in partner countries (European Commission 2012a: 2). And this was happening despite of increasing numbers of new instrumental channels such as Parliamentary Assembly of Euronest and Conference of regional and Local Authorities of the EaP.

In addition, the document reaffirms principles and goals of Warsaw Summit including the principle of conditionality. But a paramount point in the EU rhetoric manifested in the text under consideration is strong "emphasis on shared values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law"(European Commission 2012a: 2). According to the logic of the document, the lack of this normative dimension from the political agenda of partner countries makes the second goal - economic integration - implausible. For this reason the EU launches new instrument (European Endowment for Democracy) to empower civil society engaged in democratic reforms. Another part of the document coping with normative aspects is about bilateral dialogues which are common for all previous Implementation documents. From the perspective of norms, human rights, rule of law, democracy and fundamental freedoms constitute main topics of discussion. The format of bilateral dialogue, on the other hand, represents a diffusing normative instrument.

Finally, first thematic platform within EaP’s multilateral track reflects another normative dimension of the EU activities. The platform aims "to promote democratic principles, good governance and stability" in a more pragmatic fashion by deploying several technical assistance projects which are also supported by Council of Europe (European Commission 2012a: 11).

Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit, Vilnius, 28-29 November 2013

The Vilnius Summit was a historic event sketching outlines of future development of the EaP. The Summit was thought to give necessary responses to current developments and define future projects of cooperation. Therefore, Joint Declaration of the Summit is of great importance for our studies on the normative aspect of EU’s external actions.

The document has an all-encompassing content as it incorporates all the goals (political association, economic integration) and principles (shared ownership, differentiation and mutual responsibility) mentioned in the previous Prague and Warsaw Declarations which we have already analysed before. The text of the Declaration essentially sets out an ambitious agenda for the way ahead. But the EU does not introduce new values, rather it aims to ensure strong commitment of partners to already declared “common values including democracy, the rule of law, human rights and freedoms” since pending challenges remain to be tackled by respective governments (Council of the European Union 2013: 2). The objective of the Partnership is to build “a common area of shared democracy”. Corresponding normative tools suggested in the document include intensified interactions and exchanges in conjunction with “closer cooperation”. In line with above mentioned normative discourse underpinning the text, this Declaration particularly stresses the importance of civil society in advancement of democratic system. Hence, the EU resorts to various platforms (Civil Society Forum, National Platforms, and the Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility) to support their engagement.

The document also exhibits differentiation principle in provision of particular support to those who demonstrate “European aspirations and the European choice … to build deep and sustainable democracy”. (Council of the European Union 2013: 3). Further this formulation is backed by conditionality mechanism grounded on “incentive based (more for more) approach” utilized to achieve democratization (Council of the European Union 2013: 5).

Subsequently, the Declaration sets out goals to be achieved by 2015. This section provides another case where the EU makes emphasis on normative dimension. First lines of the list declare “strengthening democracy, guaranteeing respect for human rights and rule of law” major objective for next years. More than that, such formulation reveals a general sense of EU’s concern caused by decline of respective indicators in several partner countries.

Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2013 Regional report: Eastern Partnership.

The document appeals to normative values and means in several instances. First of all, the framework of dialogues and exchanges comply with normative means of diffusion that we are seeking in the analysis. Particularly it worth to note, that the EaP promotes the role of civil society and other non-state stakeholders in promotion of democracy and human rights.

Providing an example of normative means, Human Rights Dialogues simultaneously underline the normative values “including implementation of human rights procedures and mechanism, children’s rights, women’s rights, freedom of expression”(European Commission 2014a: 6) . Moreover, the EaP encourages structural reforms to bring about tangible results in this area: “The EaP has made a clear commitment to strengthening cooperation on justice, freedoms and security”. This goal is expected to be achieved via judicial reforms upholding “better human rights” and “greater transparency” (European Commission 2014a: 13). When it comes to the EaP’s goals, this document explicitly points to political association and economic integration. Another indication of normative goal is defined as “underpinning common values”. From our analysis of previous document, we can conclude that for the first time the EU includes this formulation as a distinct goal by introducing a chapter under this title. So, promotion of common values which was implicit from the texts of previous documents, here acts as an ultimate goal.

Another peculiarity of the document is reinforced insistence on conditionality. This can be traced from the title of a separate chapter – “Implementing the more for more principle” (European Commission 2014a: 9). Although this mechanism does not fully match with our normativity calculations, but in practical terms it has noticeable impact on the EU policy towards partners. Hence, the Eastern Partnership Integration and Cooperation programme supports democratic changes conforming incentive based approach, where allocations to countries are prescribed in line with Progress Reports on democracy and human rights.