Nahornyak I. EU Neighborhood Policy in relations with the state-parties of the Eastern Partnership initiative

The thesis deals with the policy of the European Union concerning the countries of Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova) and the South Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan), which are participants of the Eastern Partnership initiative. The dissertation conducted a comprehensive analysis of the basic documents of European Neighborhood Policy and the institutional mechanisms for its functioning. Author analyses the causes and consequences of the 2015 ENP, its main components. In particular, such as the possibility of stabilization in the region and implementation of the principle of differentiation, that was strengthened by focusing on the common interests of partners in their relations with the EU, and not only on the Union's own values. Author noted that excessive differentiation could underscore the role of the ENP as a general policy framework since it does not offer anything new to the neighbors that have already concluded the Association Agreement or basic partnership agreements. Moreover, the differentiation without a real transition from a theoretical to a practical perspective can mean that neighbors will now choose the policy that is most profitable for them, which may reduce the pace and effect of the reforms envisaged by the ENP. Thus, this review was a bigger application to the southern neighbors of the EU, as well as to Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Belarus, as was reflected in the new agreement between the EU and Armenia (CEPA).