Gender mainstreaming and enlargement: the EU as negligent actor?

Abstract

In its relations with the ‘near abroad’, and in particular with countries eager to attain membership status, the ability of the EU to adopt a proactive role in international politics has been very evident. Indeed, in the case of Central and East European applicants, the EU has used its position to play the role of mentor, shaping transition processes and policy preferences in order to ensure compatibility with the EU acquis. A notable exception in this case has been the EU’s evolving policy on gender relations. While there has been discussion of the formal, legal requirements of equality Directives, the EU’s declared strategy of gender mainstreaming has been disregarded. This absence represents a lost opportunity – for EU and CEEC officials to explore together the potential of, and impediments to, an effective mainstreaming strategy. This paper outlines the principles of gender mainstreaming, explains why gender issues are important in the context of enlargement and suggests reasons for the failure to adopt a mainstreaming strategy during the pre-enlargement period.