Undiscovered Avenues? CSOs as Agents of Europeanization Eiki Berg and Kristian L. Nielsen

Pre-existing knowledge 1. Pre-existing knowledge EU as a soft power has capabilities to spread out its influence EU as a soft power has capabilities to spread out its influence Europeanization refers to the diffusion of rules/procedures/policies/norms Europeanization refers to the diffusion of rules/procedures/policies/norms CSOs are acting as agents in Europeanization process CSOs are acting as agents in Europeanization process Procedural and institutional obstacles paralyze activities where civil society can help effecting Procedural and institutional obstacles paralyze activities where civil society can help effecting

2. How do we know that we know what we know? Theoretical framing Theoretical framing  Complex interdependence (Keohane & Nye 1977)  Normative power (Manners 2002)  Soft power (Nye 2004) Past empirical findings about CSO activities Past empirical findings about CSO activities  Intermediary position  Policy shaping  Policy implementation

3. Normative Power Europe discourse EU is making its external relations informed by, and conditional on, a catalogue of n o r m s (Manners 2002) EU is making its external relations informed by, and conditional on, a catalogue of n o r m s (Manners 2002) Europeans can make the world more c i v i l i s e d place if they have the confidence and capacity to export their ideas (Rifkin 2004) Europeans can make the world more c i v i l i s e d place if they have the confidence and capacity to export their ideas (Rifkin 2004) EU normative power resides in a delicate nexus of a t t r a c t i o n, c o e r c i o n and l e g i t i m a c y (Leonard 2005) EU normative power resides in a delicate nexus of a t t r a c t i o n, c o e r c i o n and l e g i t i m a c y (Leonard 2005)

4. Soft Power discourse Emphasis on attraction and persuasion rather than coercion Emphasis on attraction and persuasion rather than coercion ”The ability to get others to want the same as you want” (Nye 2004) ”The ability to get others to want the same as you want” (Nye 2004) Sources of soft power Sources of soft power  Culture  Norms and values  Policies

5. Practicing European Neighbourhood Policy ENP entails a process of Europeanization ENP entails a process of Europeanization ENP is built around action plans ENP is built around action plans ENP applies conditionality tests ENP applies conditionality tests...thus exporting the values, drawing the targeted countries closer and achieving a measure of integration without membership...

6. Difficulties to make two ends (discourse and practise) meet Civil society is weak in the neighbourhood Civil society is weak in the neighbourhood CSOs depend on foreign aid CSOs depend on foreign aid CSOs have low reputation in the society CSOs have low reputation in the society EU suffers from the credibility gap EU suffers from the credibility gap EU is a victim of its own bureaucracy EU is a victim of its own bureaucracy

7. Experiences from the field CSOs are excluded from the policy-making CSOs are excluded from the policy-making CSOs are not able to cope with EU financial conditions CSOs are not able to cope with EU financial conditions CSOs’ influence on local development is not visible CSOs’ influence on local development is not visible CSOs play a limited role in empowering citizens CSOs play a limited role in empowering citizens CSOs can provide an alternative avenue for cooperation CSOs can provide an alternative avenue for cooperation CSOs are flexible, innovative and able to react to local issues fast and effectively CSOs are flexible, innovative and able to react to local issues fast and effectively

8. Policy recommendations Efforts towards democratisation should be pursued for its own sake and not as being benefit of the EU Efforts towards democratisation should be pursued for its own sake and not as being benefit of the EU EU should exploit convergence of its own interests between the objectives of the CSOs to achieve the maximum results EU should exploit convergence of its own interests between the objectives of the CSOs to achieve the maximum results EU should find a balance between attraction, coercion and legitimacy in order to overcome credibility gap EU should find a balance between attraction, coercion and legitimacy in order to overcome credibility gap Technical areas of cooperation, like environment or economic development, offer the best short- term possibilities for achieving an impact Technical areas of cooperation, like environment or economic development, offer the best short- term possibilities for achieving an impact

The EU should not engage itself to the civil society developments more than simply being a facilitator and funding provider The EU should not engage itself to the civil society developments more than simply being a facilitator and funding provider The EU should facilitate a formation of larger network of NGOs through which ideas, experiences and knowledge could transferred to interested parties The EU should facilitate a formation of larger network of NGOs through which ideas, experiences and knowledge could transferred to interested parties The EU should reform the technical procedures and introduce a certain amount of flexibility in case it wants to play the role of normative power The EU should reform the technical procedures and introduce a certain amount of flexibility in case it wants to play the role of normative power