The European Union looks to the East
The European Union (EU) is on the move as every organization or entity that respects itself should be. In this particular case, it is attempting to redefine or, more precisely, to recalibrate its relations with its neighbours to the East and South. It has been in part urged on by the German Presidency of the first half of 2007 which has an interest in placing relations with Union’s neighbours to the east as well as the “neighbours of the neighbours”(the five Central Asian republics) on a new upgraded footing. In particular, in the wider Black Sea area, a number of issues of importance to the EU stand out. Necessity is a motivator as well. The completion of the 2004 enlargement with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania on 1 January 2007 has made the EU a Black Sea entity. This in turn implies the formulation and implementation of a policy designed to address EU concerns in this part of its neighbourhoods. Of particular relevance is the security dimension – especially with regard to th