Academic Paper from the year 2018 in the subject Politics - Topic: European Union, grade: 7,5 (Niederlandisches 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 theEuropean Neighbourhood Policy from a rationalist-constructivist perspective. Furthermore, parallels between the decision-makingprocess for the Eastern enlargement will be drawn by paying special attention to Frank Schimmelfennig's contributions to theissue. I conclude that despite the absence of accession talks, a potential future accession perspective displays the highestincentive for Eastern neighbors to participate in the ENP and that there is a possibility for renegotiating accession by making use of rhetorical action.