European Neighbourhood and Integration Policy

In accordance with its approach of translating between academic research and application in practice, the LBI of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR) dedicates itself to the promotion of human rights in and through the EU’s enlargement policy and the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The LBI-GMR follows the main goal of contributing to change within the partner countries, for which the process of EU approximation opens a “window of opportunity”, especially as regards accession countries. In this framework the Institute provides policy advice and conducts research on the EU acquis communautaire and on EU good practices with regard to human rights, rule of law and democratic standards.

On the operative level, human rights standards are thus directly being promoted in specific projects in the enlargement respectively neighbourhood countries through capacity building and policy development. Here the main focus lies on the implementation of Twinning projects as the key instrument for acquis approximation and institution building.

Another focus of our work is the strengthening of civil society. Through bilateral projects and initiatives, citizens in partner countries are supported in their efforts to contribute to change processes within the framework of the EU rapprochement.

On a research level, human rights promotion in the said policy fields and the instruments applied are analytically assessed, drawing from insights gained in the afore mentioned projects on the ground. The research findings, in turn, form the background to the Institute’s on-going engagement in the partner countries.