Conditionality and election performance within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy: the case of the 2012 and 2013 elections in Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine

In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the EU brought conditionality to the fore of the reviewed European Neighbourhood Policy. This paper examines the substance and application of conditionality based on the example of the recent elections in the Eastern Partnership countries. It is contended that the new approach offers more clarity with regard to the application of conditionality. The analysis of the EU’s response shows stronger conditionality as positive election assessments are rewarded with additional fi nancial assistance and facilitation of the Association Agreements’ negotiations (including trade and visa liberalisation). However, even though ‘free and fair elections’ now constitute the most concrete benchmark of democratisation, there is still a lack of coherent methodology to assess election performance in this respect. In the fi nal section, the authors present recommendations for the EU’s approach to election performance in the countries of the Eastern Partnership