Academic Paper from the year 2018 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: European Union, grade: 7,5 (Niederlaendisches System), University of Groningen, course: Capita European Integration, language: English, abstract: The significance of the Eastern European area for the European Union has become visible with the Eastern enlargement in 2004. Ever since then the question remains how to interact with the bordering neighbor countries. This paper aims to examine the European Neighbourhood Policy from a rationalist-constructivist perspective. Furthermore, parallels between the decision-making process for the Eastern enlargement will be drawn by paying special attention to Frank Schimmelfennig's contributions to the issue. I conclude that despite the absence of accession talks, a potential future accession perspective displays the highest incentive for Eastern neighbors to participate in the ENP and that there is a possibility for renegotiating accession by making use of rhetorical action.