EU Conditionality at Work in the Accession Process of Central and Eastern Europe. Hungary, Minorities and the Criteria of 'Good Neighborliness'

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Concept of EU conditionality – “Norms and Nannies”
  • EU Conditionality and the Western “Nannies”
  • Return to the West - Conceptionalization of the Receiving End
  • Domestic and Alternative Explanations
  • Putting Theory into Practice
  • Europeanisation
• Historical Background
  • The Trianon Syndrome
  • Prescribed Silence during Communism
  • The 1980's - Solidarity Movement for the Forgotten Ones Beyond the Borders
• EU conditionality and Hungarian Foreign Policy
  • The Antall Government and the Holy Trinity of Foreign Policy
  • Pressure is Needed – the Csurka Essay and the CoE Veto
  • Active Leverage – the Bilateral Treaties
    • The Slovak-Hungarian Basic Treaty
    • The Romanian-Hungarian Basic Treaty
• EU pressure not needed anymore? - The Status Law
  • Individual Rights, Group Rights, and the Hungarian perspective
  • The Status Law and the Debate about European standards
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This work analyzes the challenges faced by Hungary in its pursuit of European integration, focusing on the interplay between the country's commitment to the Hungarian diaspora in neighboring states, its foreign policy objectives, and the European Union's conditionality for membership. It examines how the 'minority problem' and the pursuit of good neighborliness became crucial factors in Hungary's accession process to the EU.

• The impact of the 'minority problem' on Hungary's foreign policy objectives
• The role of EU conditionality in shaping Hungarian policies towards its minorities
• The interrelationship between the 'holy trinity' of Hungarian foreign policy goals: concern for the Magyar diaspora, good relations with neighbors, and Western integration
• The 'fourth requirement' of good neighborliness as a key factor in the EU accession process for Hungary
• The challenges of balancing the need for European integration with the pursuit of national interests regarding minorities abroad

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction establishes the context of the work by highlighting the significance of the 'minority problem' in the aftermath of Hungary's transition from Communism. It introduces the key figure of Tamás Katona and his statement on the importance of handling the minority issue in a way that aligns with European values. Chapter 2 delves into the concept of EU conditionality, exploring its impact on Hungary's foreign policy. It examines the Western perspective on 'nannies' and the reception of Eastern European countries into the Western community. Chapter 3 provides a historical background, focusing on the 'Trianon Syndrome' and the lingering impact of territorial loss on Hungarian identity. It also discusses the role of the Communist era in shaping the 'minority problem'. Chapter 4 investigates the relationship between EU conditionality and Hungarian foreign policy during the Antall government. It analyzes the 'holy trinity' of foreign policy goals and how they were affected by the need to secure EU membership. Chapter 5 explores the 'Status Law' and its implications for individual and group rights, placing it within the context of European standards. This chapter provides insights into the ongoing debate about the balance between national interests and European integration.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This work centers around the central theme of EU conditionality and its impact on Hungary's foreign policy. The key concepts explored include the 'minority problem', the 'holy trinity' of foreign policy goals (concern for the Magyar diaspora, good relations with neighbors, and Western integration), the 'fourth requirement' of good neighborliness, and the 'Status Law'. These concepts are discussed within the broader context of European integration and the challenges faced by Central and Eastern European states during the transition from Communism.