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Bordering, Border Politics and Cross-Border Cooperation in Europe

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Neighbourhood Policy and the Construction of the European External Borders

Part of the book series: GeoJournal Library ((GEJL,volume 115))

Abstract

The chapter presents the state of the art of debates on theoretical and practical issues concerning border politics and cross-border cooperation in Europe, that are relevant to the interaction between the EU border regions and their immediate neighbours. The chapter focuses on the concept of ‘bordering’ as a theoretical and empirical approach to understanding the socio-political significance of borders both within and beyond Europe. Rather than to focus strictly on physical borders as legal institutions, the ‘bordering’ perspective is about the everyday construction of borders among communities and groups, through ideology, discourses, political institutions, attitudes and agency. In this frame, a focus on the cross-border cooperation initiatives is presented. Furthermore bordering is analysed within the EU’s dual geopolitical project of consolidation and co-operation. The ‘politics of borders’, it is argued, has been an integral part of the European Union’s project of integration, enlargement and regional cooperation and has been embodied by the European Neighbourhood Policy.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See, for example, Briner (1986), Church and Reid (1996) and Steiner and Sturn (1993).

  2. 2.

    Two informative sources on border research in Europe and in more international terms are two major anthologies that have recently appeared: Wilson and Donnan (2012) and Wastl Walter (2011).

  3. 3.

    See, for example, Henk van Houtum’s (2002) essay on ‘borders of comfort’ and their effects on restricting cross-border economic networking.

  4. 4.

    According to the ENP strategy paper (EU Commission 2004, p. 3), ‘the privileged relationship with neighbours will build on mutual commitment to common values principally within the fields of the rule of law, good governance, the respect for human rights, including minority rights, the promotion of good neighbourly relations, and the principles of market economy and sustainable development’. The document then states: ‘The level of ambition of the EU’s relationships with its neighbours will take into account the extent to which these values are effectively shared’.

  5. 5.

    The countries involved in the ENP are: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine. While not part of the ENP process in the strict sense, Russia participates in cross-border programmes funded through the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI–CBC). No agreements have been established to date with Belarus, Libya and Syria. For further information on the European Neighbourhood Policy, see Chap. 3.

  6. 6.

    Article 2 of the ENPI Regulation (European Parliament 2006) reads as follows: ‘Community assistance shall promote enhanced cooperation and progressive economic integration between the European Union and the partner countries and, in particular, the implementation of partnership and cooperation agreements, association agreements or other existing and future agreements. It shall also encourage partner countries’ efforts aimed at promoting good governance and equitable social and economic development’.

  7. 7.

    The EU’s security policies with regard to the neighbourhood are targeted at enhancing public security through combating environmental hazards, terrorism, organized crime, smuggling and other illegal activities. At the same time, peace and stability are to be achieved through closer economic cooperation and the avoidance of divisive gaps in living standards.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Karelian Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 2, FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland

    James W. Scott

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  1. James W. Scott
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Correspondence to James W. Scott .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department MEMOTEF, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy

    Filippo Celata

  2. Department MEMOTEF, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy

    Raffaella Coletti

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Scott, J. (2015). Bordering, Border Politics and Cross-Border Cooperation in Europe. In: Celata, F., Coletti, R. (eds) Neighbourhood Policy and the Construction of the European External Borders. GeoJournal Library, vol 115. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18452-4_2

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