Sieglinde Gstöhl Books

Gstöhl (international relations, Humbolt U., Berlin) investigates why the three small, rich, open economies have been so shy about supranational integration. They were all founding members of the European Free Trade Association, conceived as an alternative to the precursors of the European Union, and conduct most of their trade with European neighbors. She finds an explanation by combining an analysis of economic interests in market integration with ideational interests in protecting national identity. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Should the European Neighbourhood Policy stop at the borders of the European Union's immediate neighbouring countries? This book is the first full length study of the 'neighbours of the EU's neighbours', a concept originally introduced by the European Commission with reference to Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. These regions in the EU's broader neighbourhood are often perceived as an 'arc of crisis' from which manifold challenges emanate for Europe. This timely book takes stock of the state of the EU's cooperation with the neighbours of its neighbours and explores how the concept might help promote security, stability and prosperity beyond the countries which are formally part of the European Neighbourhood Policy. How can the EU create bridges between these regions? What instruments does the EU have at its disposal and how can it link them in order to respond to the challenges and overcome the current fragmentation? One of the conclusions is the suggestion to consider a pragmatic 'EU Strategy for the Neighbours of its Neighbours' which addresses the needs of the broader EU neighbourhood in a more systematic and consistent manner and helps transform in the long run the 'arc of crisis' into another 'ring of friends'.