WP1 develops a comprehensive theoretical framework on integration through rights. It starts with an initial literature review on the notion of rights and their potential to (dis)integrate societies, and continues with a critical analysis of EU Treaties, as well as the agreements between EU and the neighbouring countries under investigation (EEA Agreement, and association agreements with Georgia and North-Macedonia as well as the Protocol Ireland/Northern Ireland and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the UK. The analysis of primary sources is complemented by a literature review on the potential usages of EU generated rights, using literature in all the project languages. Both these tasks culminate in a theoretical concept paper which will be subjected to peer review in the first academic project seminar in year 2. WP 1 is the responsibility of the PI (Prof Dagmar Schiek) and the first PDR (Dr Audrey Plan). The research questions answered in this WP are:
RQ 1: How can law enable societal interaction? What is the specific character of interacting through practical usage of rights? Are there conceptions, constellations, and mechanisms to enforce rights which are prone to integrate or disintegrate societies? RQ 2: What are the preconditions for the functionality of integration through rights in a multi-polar entity such as the EU? Can similar functions be fulfilled in the EU’s neighbourhood based on agreements such as the EEA Agreement and the agreements on the relationship with the UK? |