For the European Union, the rule of law is a multifaceted notion of ‘primordial importance’. It is both a foundational value (Article 2 TEU) and a guiding principle for the Union’s external action... Show moreFor the European Union, the rule of law is a multifaceted notion of ‘primordial importance’. It is both a foundational value (Article 2 TEU) and a guiding principle for the Union’s external action in general (Article 21(1) TEU). The concept plays a central role within the EU and in its external policy. However, what is meant by the term ‘rule of law’ in the EU’s external policy? The thesis tackles the largely unexplored question of the EU’s conceptualisation of the rule of law in its external relations, with a particular focus on development cooperation and enlargement. Although the EU’s commitment to the rule of law is strong and often repeated, the relevant concept remains nebulous. On the basis of a detailed analysis of two key EU external policy areas, the main argument advanced is that the Union has adopted a mostly ‘institutional’ approach to the concept by focussing largely on judicial reform. By testing the relevant practice against the background of the constitutional traditions of the Member States and legal theory, the thesis attests to the significance of developing a more comprehensive approach to the rule of law in EU external relations. Show less
The EU's good governance policy considers civil society an actor promoting development as well as political accountability of governments, thus contributing to the democratisation of political... Show moreThe EU's good governance policy considers civil society an actor promoting development as well as political accountability of governments, thus contributing to the democratisation of political systems. This study argues that the EU's policy is based on questionable assumptions with respect to the nature of civil society, as well as the willingness of state and civil society to cooperate. Syria, as an extreme case of authoritarianism, is taken as an example. The connotation attached by the EU to civil society in Syria is normative and overlooks its complexity and the character of its relations with the state. Within the context of intergovernmental and multilateral cooperation, the Syrian regime could select and control activities in the domain of good governance, including possible involvement in its implementation by Syrian civil society organisations, which were not perceived as a threat to the regime's power. In fact, this support may have even contributed to the resilience of this authoritarian regime Show less
