ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to contribute to a better understanding of approximation as a method of acquis export to the Eastern European countries. It is argued that its meaning and objectives have shifted and expanded from the one used after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Apart from being an innovative political and economic regional integration process, the European Union (EU) has increasingly used different levels of integration in its external relations with third countries to export its own norms, rules and values beyond its borders. These third countries in return accepted them on a voluntary basis. This phenomenon, known as external Europeanisation or acquis export. The new approach to legislative approximation developed in the context of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) aims at creating a Neighbourhood Economic Community (NEC). The chapter claims that clarifying the distinction between approximation and related terms such as harmonisation, unification and convergence is necessary in order to avoid further confusion within the Union and abroad.
