The Economic Perspective of EU's Association with the South Caucasus

This paper analyses the economic perspective of EU's Association, namely the Association Agreement (AA) and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) perspective of the South Caucasus (SC) countries. The main purpose of this research is to analyse the performance of SC countries in terms of EU economic association perspective, primarily based on the AA and DCFTA. The following tasks are raised in order to achieve this purpose: to introduce the theoretical background of complex interdependence theory in international relations and the role of cooperation; to analyse the ENP, EaP, Action Plans and accordingly, policy developments in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia; to examine the content and key characteristics of AA/ DCFTA and its implications in the context of deeper economic integration perspective of the EU and the SC states; to assess the current situation on the Georgian AA/DCFTA in the light of Georgian further membership perspective; to analyse the legal framework of EU-Armenia economic relationship as a ground of economic association with the EU; to investigate the legal framework of EU-Azerbaijan economic relationship as a ground of economic association with the EU.

Autorentext

Lala D. Ahmadzada, MA: Studied International Relations and Diplomacy at Vytautas Magnus University and University of Eastern Finland; carried out several international internship programmes at European Parliament and SOCAR Representative Germany; Alumni of Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Foundation.

Klappentext

This paper analyses the economic perspective of EU's Association, namely the Association Agreement (AA) and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) perspective of the South Caucasus (SC) countries. The main purpose of this research is to analyse the performance of SC countries in terms of EU economic association perspective, primarily based on the AA and DCFTA. The following tasks are raised in order to achieve this purpose: to introduce the theoretical background of complex interdependence theory in international relations and the role of cooperation; to analyse the ENP, EaP, Action Plans and accordingly, policy developments in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia; to examine the content and key characteristics of AA/ DCFTA and its implications in the context of deeper economic integration perspective of the EU and the SC states; to assess the current situation on the Georgian AA/DCFTA in the light of Georgian further membership perspective; to analyse the legal framework of EU-Armenia economic relationship as a ground of economic association with the EU; to investigate the legal framework of EU-Azerbaijan economic relationship as a ground of economic association with the EU.