ABSTRACT
Introduction The EU as a normative actor creates a link between Europeanization and democratization of its candidate countries (CCs). The CCs’ political elites believe that EU membership will contribute to their democratic consolidation whereas the EU expects the CCs to internalize democratic principles and to become liberal and not solely electoral democracies. This is done directly through the so-called conditionality but also indirectly through elite socialization followed by norm diffusion in the domestic environment given that these elites are open to such influence and that it coincides with their interests (Grabbe 2001). By applying for EU membership, the CCs willingly put themselves under the pressure and scrutiny of the EU, recognizing the obligation to commit to democratization and the protection of human rights.
