Book Review: Developing Trade and Trade Policy Relations with the European Union. Experience of Visegrád Countries and Implications/Lessons for Eastern Partners

Abstract

The trade cooperation between the Eastern Partnership countries and the European Union has faced significant setbacks in recent years. Because the EU is basing its cooperation with the EaP countries on similar Agreements to those concluded with the Visegrád Four, the lessons learned from the integration of the Visegrád countries can help the eastern neighbours in their relations with the EU. The perspective of full membership, yearly evaluations and recommendations and the support of a dedicated financial instrument were the main sources that fuelled Poland’s and Hungary’s successful integration process. Thus, the lack of a full membership perspective weighs heavily on the cooperation between EU and the EaP countries, while the current situation in Ukraine also called the Eastern Partnership into question. Even though the Republic of Moldova and Georgia seem to favour European integration, Azerbaijan finds itself in an interesting position that allows it to be independent of the two powers EU and Russia. The lack of incentives offered by the EU in the trade negotiations may lead to the strengthening of the relations between the EaP countries and Russia.

Keywords

• European Union
• trade policy
• Visegrád Four
• Eastern Partnership