Protecting and Promoting Europe: The ENP and the Security-Democracy Nexus in Partner States

In the early 2000s, the European Union (EU) enlarged eastward into postcommunist territory. This was a successful foreign policy strategy to protect and promote European norms and values. In 2004, the EU decided on a new European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) toward neighboring states. The ENP aimed to create a ring of friends. This article assesses the ENP on democratization in eastern and southern partner states, 16 partner states altogether, in 2004–2014. It is argued that, despite the ENP effort to protect Europe by promoting democratic norms and values, the EU's borders are under heavy pressure from authoritarianism and political instability.