1The Two-Track Approach to Democracy Promotion in the European Neighbourhood Policy

Very first draft- Research in progress The European Neigbourhood Policy (ENP) is claimed to be based on shared values and commitments between the European Union and its partner countries. Within this set of values, as stated in various official documents, democracy plays a central role. The way in which the value of democracy has been translated into the ENP Action Plans, however, is rather diverse. In some cases it is mentioned as a value, without being transposed into specific action points. This is most notably the case in the relations with the countries of the Southern Mediterranean. Other Action Plans contain specific action points on democracy, for example in the case of Ukraine and Moldova. This paper focuses on ENP relations with the latter, i.e. the bilateral relations where democracy promotion features prominently at the level of concrete action points. It is argued in this paper that, in order to understand the EU’s role in democracy promotion towards its Eastern neighbours, we must distinguish between two tracks underlying the EU’s approach to democratisation beyond its borders. The first track is aimed at the export of a democratic institutional framework, forming the basis of the most essential criteria for free and fair elections and the separation of powers. The second track is formed by the promotion of les