ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at different privileged partnerships with the European Union (EU) from an institutional point of view. No two partnerships are exactly the same; they differ in scope, structure and content. The question is whether the EU pursues a common approach to the institutional arrangements with its neighbouring countries. The evidence indeed suggests a standardized approach. The EU claims that certain institutional elements or principles need to be included in the institutional set-up of the agreements that have just been or are currently being negotiated, in particular with Switzerland as well as with Andorra, Monaco and San Marino. However, comparing the standardized approach with the outcome of negotiations, or what is known so far, shows that the EU can only partially impose its institutional ‘programme’ with implications for the quality of access to and integration into the EU’s internal market.
