ABSTRACT

This chapter provides a brief investigation of the connection linking the acquis and the values of the Union internally and also in the context of the EUs pre-accession strategy and external action. It also flashes out the inconsistent reasoning behind the belief concerning a direct correlation between rules and values in the context of supranational integration, drawing attention to the importance of the latter. The key importance of EU values as reflected in Article 2 TEU, which the EU is bound to promote in the neighbourhood is to be kept constantly in mind, occupying the key place in the EUs engagement with its neighbours. The chapter proceeds to outline the distinction between the approaches to values inside the EU as opposed to the outside, flashing our untenable presumptions about the inherently values-inspired nature of the Member States held until very recently by the EU and the Member States alike.