What Model of Governance does the European Union Promote in South East Europe?

by Christopher Bedding

This article aims to describe the specific model of governance that the European Union is promoting through its CARDS programme in the Balkans. The CARDS programme is closely tied both to the Stabilisation and Association process and to accession to the European Union. An important consequence of this, is that the EU's programmes have an greater a priori influence.
 
The precise nature of the model of governance being promoted by the EU, however, is largely unknown. This paper, therefore, aims to outline the particular form of governance that the European Union is promoting in the region. In order to achieve this, a theoretical framework of governance will be outlined that looks at the core features of governance, both in general and in relation to the European Union. Then, using data from the multi-indicative programmes and evaluations of EU assistance, the article will highlight the particularities of the European Union approach to governance in the region.