Inside the Index: What we look at and how we measure it What? The Index interprets “progress in European integration” as the combination of two separate yet interdependent processes: increased linkages between each of the EaP countries and the European Union; and greater approximation between those countries’ institutions, legislation and practices and those of the EU. While the first process reflects the growth of political, economic and social interdependencies between EaP countries and the EU, the second process shows the degree to which each EaP country adopts institutions and policies typical of EU member states and required of EaP countries by the EU. The Index assumes that increased linkages and greater approximation mutually reinforce each other. However, this virtuous circle is not fully self-enforcing. Its dynamic depends more on facilitative political decisions and structures. Such a concept of European integration has led us to identify three dimensions for evaluation: 1st Linkage: growing political, economic and social ties between each of the six EaP countries and the EU; 2nd Approximation: structures and institutions in the EaP countries converging towards EU standards and in line with EU requirements; 3rd Management: evolving management structures and policies for European integration in EaP countries. These dimensions are subdivided into the sections, categories and subcategories shown in Table 1.
All categories and subcategories are further broken down into items that are listed in full on the Project’s website6. These items consist of questions for experts and quantitative indicators from public data sources. The structure of the Linkage and Approximation dimensions reflects the multi-level and multi-sectoral nature of European integration. It also reflects the structure of bilateral Action Plans/Association Agendas between the EU and EaP countries, and the EU’s annual Progress Reports. Since many items in these dimensions have not been compared systematically in existing surveys, we have asked various local experts to provide their assessments and information. The Linkage dimension looks at depth and intensity of contacts and cooperation between the EU and each EaP country, in particular political dialogue, trade flows, cooperation in various sectors, people mobility and the level of EU assistance to each country. The Approximation dimension seeks to assess how closely institutions and policies in EaP countries resemble those typical of EU member states. The sections on deep and sustainable democracy and market economy and DCFTA not only constitute core conditions that the EU imposes on countries interested in closer relations with it—they are also uncontested political aims and legitimising general principles in all EaP countries. These sections partly use ratings and composite indicators produced by international agencies and other nongovernmental organisations (NGOs).
6 www.eap-index.eu
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