The European Union and its neighbourhood

Director: Nathalie Tocci
Senior researcher: Michele Comelli, Nicoletta Pirozzi
Researchers: Silvia Colombo, Nona Mikhelidze
Programme & Events assistant: Nathalie Champion

A growing area of research in IAI is the EU and its neighbourhood.
The rationale for this programme is two-fold. On the one hand, it stems from the EU's enlargement process, which has led the Union to define (and redefine) a neighbourhood policy. On the other hand, it is driven by the geopolitical transformations in the Middle East and Eurasia, which have key consequences for transatlantic relations and for the EU's international relations in a multipolar world. 
The institute's increasing interest in this area is reflected in research projects, events and publications that are both regional and thematic in nature. Geographically, IAI follows closely developments in Turkey, including domestic politics, foreign policy and relations with the EU and the US; the Cyprus conflict; EU relations with Russia and the Caucasus; the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and EU relations with the southern Mediterranean and the Middle East. Thematically, the programme focuses on conflict resolution, democracy, development and the role of civil society, sub-regional cooperation, and the EU's role in fostering regional multilateralism.

The principal donor of this programme is the European Commission.

EU AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

CORE - Cultures of governance and conflict resolution in Europe and India (N.Tocci, N.Mikhelidze

The project aims to analyse how socio-economic and political intra-state conflicts are being perceived and dealt with through current governance initiatives in India and the EU. Through concrete case studies, it assesses the effect and impact of governance initiatives on conflicts where issues of identity mobilization and minority rights are prominent. The case studies of the project encompass recent governance practices in Bihar, Bosnia, Cyprus, Georgia, North East India and Kashmir. These studies are conducted in collaboration between Indian and European research teams.

Pubblications:
Country and Society Brief
Survey preparation background report
Summary of fieldwork (1st round) in Georgia/Abkhazia
National and European cultures of governance in Georgia and Abkhaz conflict resolution

The Autonomy of South Tyrol: A Model for Conflict Resolution in the Post-Soviet Space? (N.Mikhelidze, N.Tocci)

The project coordinated by IAI in cooperation with the University of Trento and the Center for Strategic Studies (SAM) in Baku aims to analyse the legal framework of the autonomy statute of South Tyrol by identifying the principal points of the model as well as the way in which it was achieved and test the possible applicability of its rationale to the Abkhaz and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict cases.
In order to reach this final goal the project will tackle the statute of the de facto states during Soviet times, examining how the rights of ethnic minorities were defined and how their relationships with their respective socialist republics were regulated. With this, the research will try to understand what were the shortcomings of the Soviet model of autonomy that caused their disaffection and violence. In the post war period, various peace proposals have been drafted by the governments of the metropolitan states. However, none were successful or at least attractive for further discussion. The final phase of the research will be to analyse whether there are some principles of the South Tyrol model which could be integrated into existing (or new) peace proposals in order to make these more attractive to the conflict parties.

Conferences
30 November 2012: seminar on "The autonomy of Trentino/South Tyrol: A model for conflict resolution in the post-Soviet space?"
27 September 2012: seminar on "Assessing the peace process over Nagorno-Karabakh"

EU AND MULTILATERALISM

Azerbaijan, Caucasus and the EU: Towards Close Cooperation? (N.Mikhelidze, N.Tocci)

IAI launches a series of roundtables aiming at discussing the principal policy issues regarding Azerbaijan and more broadly the South Caucasus in the EU. The project will focus on the three macro themes regarding the region: the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, energy security and democratization in the eastern neighbourhood in the light of the revolts in the south. The series of roundtables will be concluded by a final conference in Rome, debating EU policy (from the ENP to the EaP) in the South Caucasus. How does political instability and the security deficit in the South Caucasus threaten the EU? What are the prospects for the EU to deepen or alter its “indirect” methods of conflict resolution in areas such as good governance, the rule of law, elections, the media and civil society development in the South Caucasus? The project foresees the publication (online) of the working papers presented on the roundtables. Revised versions of the papers will be published in a book.

Publications:
Azerbaijan's foreign policy and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, by E.Fuller (iaiwp 1312)
Russia plays on Azerbaijan's insecurity but sinks into its own troubles, by P.K.Baev (iaiwp 1309)
Azerbaijan's foreign policy: between East and West, by K.Makili-Aliyev (iaiwp 1305)
Azerbaijan in transition, by J.Hölscher (iaiwp 1220)
The quest for political reform in Azerbaijan: what role for the transatlantic community?, by A.Valiyev (iaiwp 1212)
The South East Europe Pipeline: greater benefit for a greater number of actors, by E.Soltanov (iaiwp 1202)
After Kazan, a defining moment for the OSCE Minsk process, by D.Sammut (iaiwp 1130)
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: current trends and future scenarios, by F.Ismailzade (iaiwp 1129)

Conferences:
4 April 2013: conference on "Gender balance and the role of women in Azerbaijan"
30 January 2013: conference on "Azerbaijan in a multipolar world: challenges and opportunities"
8 November 2012: seminar on "Azerbaijan's foreign policy priorities: regional and European dimension"
29 May 2012: seminar on "Economic transition in Azerbaijan and relations with Italy"
14 February 2012: conference on "Democratic institutions and human rights in Azerbaijan: what role for the transatlantic community?"
2 November 2011: conference on "Azerbaijan's energy diplomacy and Western competition over Caspian gas"
11 July 2011: seminar on "The future of mediation on Nagorno-Karabakh"

  Turkey, Europe and the World: Political, Economic and Foreign Policy Dimensions of Turkey's Evolving Relationship with the EU (see section: Turkey)

MEDPRO - Prospective analysis for the Mediterranean region (see section: Mediterranean and Middle East)

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