Politicization of European Integration in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The Perceptions of the EU’s Policies in CEE and Beyond

Abstract

The EU as a polity and the idea of European integration – along the illiberal turn in many of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries – is becoming more contested by political actors in CEE as well as among countries that either aspire for membership or association with the EU. From the overall supportive attitudes to the idea of European integration NMS societies and their elites are developing more nuanced and critical position resulting from both domestic variables as well as crises in which the EU was entrapped in recent years. The politicization of the European integration reached the CEE only years after the enlargement. In order to understand what is changing as regards the perception of the EU research focus must shift into more detailed analysis of the perceptions of specific activities and policies of the EU. The main interest on this panel is to discuss how – specifically on the elite level – the various EU policies are perceived and contested and how this contribute to understanding the developments in European politics. The papers gathered in the panel look also beyond the EU member states and focus on the external perceptions form the elites in neighbouring countries such as Ukraine where the EU activities are resonating with the society in crisis context. In this dimension the panel will contribute to the section paradigm shift debate by comparing CEE cases with other non-EU members in the region.