Cited Eurosphere;
Dark blue: European Union
Light blue: Rest of Europe and North American country Greenland, traditionally associated with Europe.
Turquoise: European Neighbourhood
Brown: ACP countries

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The concept of the ‘Eurosphere’ or ‘European Empire^[1]’ has grown in popularity in the early years of the 21st century, and is associated with the public intellectual, Mark Leonard,^[2] the academic at the University of Oxford, Jan Zielonka,^[1] the strategist and European Union Director-General for Politico-Military Affairs, Robert Cooper;^[3] and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso.^[4]

Over the past 50 years, the European Union has expanded from 6 members to 27, there are 9 candidate and potential candidate countries waiting to join. A number of western European countries are integrated economically, as part of the Union's single market or using its single currency. Through its External Relations it has a capability to speak with one voice in the world and has association and free trade agreements with a large number of states, through the European Neighbourhood Policy and Union for the Mediterranean (developed from the Barcelona process) it is creating closer ties with those countries on its borders, while developed ties with former colonies, now the ACP countries.

Membership in particular has seen a great deal of reform in countries seeking to join; for example the huge reforms seen in Turkey such as the abolition of capital punishment.^[5] The development of the Union's influence, and the draw of membership, has been subject to a number of academic writings. For example, Mark Leonard describes the area of EU influence as the Eurosphere, some names are less positive.

[edit] Countries within the Eurosphere

According to Mark Leonard, the Eurosphere includes (what were in 2004) 109 countries. In Europe, these were the then-25 members, applicant countries, western Balkan countries and European CIS countries (including transcontinental countries such as Kazakhstan). Curiously he does not mention western European countries such as Norway who are integrated into the EU's single market. Outside Europe, he gives a blanket list of every African country and every Middle Eastern country, that is so the countries forming the eastern border of the Eurosphere are Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia and Kazakhstan.^[6]

Other countries that could be said to be within the Eurosphere might include western European countries, such as those in the European Economic Area or using the euro, or the Union's overseas territories. Both these groups have strong economic links, through the afore mentioned relationships.

[edit] Quotes

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Ankerl, Guy. Global communication without universal civilization. INU societal research. Vol.1: Coexisting contemporary civilizations : Arabo-Muslim, Bharati, Chinese, and Western. Geneva: INU Press. ISBN 2-88155-004-5. 

[edit] External links

• The EU as a Regional Normative Hegemon: The Case of European Neighbourhood Policy
• Mahony, Honor (2007-07-11) Barroso says EU is an 'empire' - EU Observer.