ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the theme of the book, and it starts by explaining the existing gap in the literature – how most of the studies focusing on regionalism promotion have paid more attention to the European Union (EU) but less on its member states. Afterwards, the chapter moves on to elucidate why the case of the East African Community (EAC) has been selected to explain how the EU and its member states engage in supporting its integration process. In addition to multilateral promotion of regional integration via the EU, states have chosen other bilateral channels in their engagement with the EAC, including using their bilateral institutions, a non-profit company or contributing to the EAC Partnership Fund. The chapter also discusses how the data has been collected and analysed while assessing European involvement in the EAC. In the end of the chapter, a summary of the arguments made in the book is provided as well as a description of the book's structure.
