Europeanization postponed: The role of veto players in shaping convergence with the EU's conflict resolution and internal market integration policies in Moldova and Georgia

This thesis analyzes the implementation of the EU's Eastern Neighborhood Policy (ENP) in Georgia and Moldova by comparing two policy fields -- conflict resolution and integration into the internal market. I argue that in the absence of a concrete membership perspective, the EU's policy specific conditionality and technical assistance result in low levels of implementation, which remains constant across policy fields and states. I explain this by focusing on the presence of formal and informal veto players responsible for blocking and easing implementation of EU norms and rules. In doing so, this thesis highlights the emergence of non-traditional veto players in agrarian states with pro-EU coalitions such as Georgia and Moldova.