ABSTRACT
The collapse of the Soviet Union and the Yugoslav conflict at the beginning of the nineties unleashed multiple demands for self-determination and political independence, forcing EU states to react. Since then new demands both within and outside the EU have continued to proliferate, prompting the need to address and respond to these dynamics in a more principled manner while allowing flexibility in every case. A critical question for EU states is whether or not to support the aspirations of more recent movements to become states through recognition acts and if so, why. As will be argued in this study, although that issue has required attention by European policymakers for nearly 30 years, a fully satisfactory approach is still lacking. The dominance of security-driven approaches and pragmatic reasoning on recognition is difficult to sustain not least in relation to pressure for secession within the EU. A sound approach must take seriously not only how policymaking in this area may affect peace and security, but also how to safeguard the rule of law and respect for human rights.
