Estonia and the "Eastern" ENP: Cherry-picking in the Conceptual Chaos

The article examines Estonia's positioning within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). ENP as such is a rather new field of common policy. It was launched only in 2003. Still it has already given reason for vivid political and academic debates within the EU. ENP has faced strong criticism as its effectiveness in building the bilateral relations between the European Union and its neighbours is constantly being questioned. The article concentrates mostly on the "eastern" ENP -- Ukraine, Moldova and Southern Caucasus -- noting that these countries also expect ENP to develop into a tool helping to facilitate their accession to the EU membership. Still, the article argues, ENP can be seen as a rather successful project within EU ￠ € s foreign political context. ENP has allowed the EU to spread its foreign political influence beyond its member states' borders. In case of the "eastern" neighbourhood, ENP has definitely became a pro-Western "verbal empire" facilitating the spread of liberal and democratic values of governance as well as introduction of more efficient practices of market economy. For Estonia ENP has opened completely new foreign political perspectives. With the help of ENP Estonia has been able to create an image of itself as "eastern expert" within the Union. Simultaneously Estonia has practised somehow messianic elements in its relations with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia by presenting itself as a model of successful post-Soviet transition and European integration.