The Limits of the European Union's Normative Power Through the European Neighbourhood Policy in Armenia and Moldova

This article argues that the European Union (EU) exerts only limited normative power on Moldova and Armenia via the European Neighbourhood Policy. It explores whether the EU successfully promotes democracy and good governance reforms in both countries and how this impacts the EU’s role as a normative power in the neighbourhood. To answer both questions, I use a framework based on Ian Manners’ concept of ‘Normative Power Europe’ and de Wekker and Niemann’s theoretical framework in order to study the EU’s Action Plans within both countries. First, I analyse the normative process of the EU by focusing on evidence of inclusiveness and reflexivity in its Action Plans within Moldova and Armenia. Second, I analyse the normative impact of the EU by looking at its promotion of democratic and good governance reforms in Moldova and Armenia. Third, I compare the normative process and its impact on Armenia and Moldova. Taking inclusiveness and reflexivity in policymaking and values of democracy and good governance as indicators of normative power, I conclude that the EU’s normative power in Armenia and Moldova vis-à-vis the European Neighbourhood Policy is limited due to a lack of inclusiveness in the EU Action Plans, as well as a lack of effective democratic and good governance reforms in both countries. While the EU’s normative power varies across policy areas and over time, my analysis identifies specific components of normative power to evaluate the application of the European Neighbourhood Policy to Moldova and Armenia.