NORDIC/BALTIC COOPERATION IN VIEW OF EU'S EASTWARD ENLARGEMENT

• Main Author: Ekane, Duone
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Södertörns högskola 2005
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-2056

The Eastward enlargement marked the Baltic States’ integration into the European Union. This thesis examines the Nordic countries’ support for the Baltic States during the enlargement process. This is viewed in terms of the support the Nordic countries rendered to the Baltic States in order to fasten their transition process and consequently their EU integration. The Liberal inter-governmentalist integration theory, which is the stand-point of this paper, identifies preferences based on geographical proximity; economic interest, and geo-politic concerns as influencing EU member states’ support towards applicant countries. Assessing the Nordic countries motives for supporting the Baltic States revealed that economic interest was one of the major factors, since the Nordic countries were the major investors and trade partners of the Baltic States. Other aspects like geographical proximity, historical and cultural ties also helped in propelling the Nordic countries involvement in the Baltic States. An assessment of the views of the various officials of the Nordic countries on the issue of the EU enlargement towards the Baltic States illustrated that they saw it as an opportunity of fostering the existence of democracy, security, the development of a market economy in these countries, as well as acquire trade partners with them. The findings demonstrated that the Nordic countries’ support was not limited to advocating for the course of the Baltic States within the EU, but also involved various projects and programs executed in the Baltic States.