ABSTRACT
A standard criticism of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is that it has adopted a 'one size fits all' approach. The ENP reviews since then have promised that principles of 'more for more' and 'differentiation' will guide future policy development. These principles suggest that the EU will begin to make more significant distinction between East and South, and differentiate its strategies within each sub-region. Between 2004 and 2013 – when the geopolitical scenario abruptly changed – the ENP enshrined a focus on democracy support that was driven by EU strategic aims, but also pursued in a relatively low-key and technocratic fashion. Morocco offers an illustration of the EU geopolitical interest in stability over wholesale democratic considerations, and its support of reform that is carefully controlled and bounded. The EU accelerated the signing of the Association Agreements with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. The EU support for political reforms in Moldova and Georgia, where democratic consolidation is associated with pro-European agendas.
