Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Abbreviations
- Notes on contributors
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- PART I Constitutional and institutional questions
- PART II Bilateral and regional approaches
- 9 The relations between the EU and Switzerland
- 10 The relations between the EU and Andorra, San Marino and Monaco
- 11 The EU's Neighbourhood Policy towards Eastern Europe
- 12 The four Common Spaces: new impetus to the EU–Russia Strategic Partnership?
- 13 The EU's Strategic Partnership with the Mediterranean and the Middle East: a new geopolitical dimension of the EU's proximity strategies
- 14 The EU's transatlantic relationship
- PART III Selected substantive areas
- Table of Treaty Provisions
- Index
10 - The relations between the EU and Andorra, San Marino and Monaco
from PART II - Bilateral and regional approaches
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Abbreviations
- Notes on contributors
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- PART I Constitutional and institutional questions
- PART II Bilateral and regional approaches
- 9 The relations between the EU and Switzerland
- 10 The relations between the EU and Andorra, San Marino and Monaco
- 11 The EU's Neighbourhood Policy towards Eastern Europe
- 12 The four Common Spaces: new impetus to the EU–Russia Strategic Partnership?
- 13 The EU's Strategic Partnership with the Mediterranean and the Middle East: a new geopolitical dimension of the EU's proximity strategies
- 14 The EU's transatlantic relationship
- PART III Selected substantive areas
- Table of Treaty Provisions
- Index
Summary
Introduction
Writing on the relations between the EU and Andorra, San Marino and Monaco is not an easy exercise. Various aspects make these relationships very complex. An important one has to do with history, whether or not in combination with geography. It is simply impossible to examine the relationships between the EU and, for example, Andorra, without explaining why Andorra is where it is and how it comes that this piece of land in the heart of the Pyrenees is neither France nor Spain and not part of the EU. But entering into the unique and often fascinating history of micro-States in a contribution like this is an almost impossible venture. Constraints of various natures impose all kinds of limitations and the reality is such that only a very fragmented picture of the relevant historical facts can be provided. Nevertheless, the very short historical background to each of the three micro-States should help to elucidate their specificity in their present relations with the EU.
One of the characteristics common to all of the European micro-States is the very special relationship with their immediate neighbour or neighbours; this very often also explains why their neighbours did not absorb them. But this common feature is at the same time the characteristic which makes it very difficult to make generalisations.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Law and Practice of EU External RelationsSalient Features of a Changing Landscape, pp. 270 - 308Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008