The Netherlands as a complementary Rule of Law Promoter? An analysis of Dutch projects in Europe

Jorin van den Heuvel

Diplomová práce

Anotace:

In a Europe, where the task of protecting the value of the rule of law (RoL), enshrined in Article 2 TEU, primarily lies in the hands of the ‘guardian of the treaties’, the European Commission, the question remains what can be done by a member state eager to help. The Netherlands provides such an effort to support the RoL by financing local projects across Europe, but is this compatible with the European Union’s RoL goals in the region? This research seeks to explore the role of Dutch projects in the process of strengthening the rule of law in Europe, and to what extent the Dutch role can be considered complementary to the EU’s RoL goals in the region. This is done through a comprehensive analysis of thirteen Dutch funded projects across four European countries in different stages of adherence to the RoL: Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Hungary.

Abstract:

In a Europe, where the task of protecting the value of the rule of law (RoL), enshrined in Article 2 TEU, primarily lies in the hands of the ‘guardian of the treaties’, the European Commission, the question remains what can be done by a member state eager to help. The Netherlands provides such an effort to support the RoL by financing local projects across Europe, but is this compatible with the European Union’s RoL goals in the region? This research seeks to explore the role of Dutch projects in the process of strengthening the rule of law in Europe, and to what extent the Dutch role can be considered complementary to the EU’s RoL goals in the region. This is done through a comprehensive analysis of thirteen Dutch funded projects across four European countries in different stages of adherence to the RoL: Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Hungary.

Keywords

Rule of Law, RoL, Netherlands, European Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, North Macedonia.

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 1. 10. 2020

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 21. 7. 2020
• Vedoucí: Dr. Jasper Sluijs
• Oponent: Mgr. et Mgr. Veronika Zapletalová, Ph.D.

Masarykova univerzita

Fakulta sociálních studií

Magisterský studijní program / obor:
Mezinárodní teritoriální studia / Evropské vládnutí