The EU Relocation Scheme : The Visegrad group’s resistance of the EU relocation scheme

Abstract: The purpose of this case study is to use Ian Manner’s normative power theory and Adrian Hyde-Price’s neo-realism theory, in order to explain the Visegrad countries’ resistance against the EU relocation. There is great tension within the EU on how to handle the migration and refugee crisis. The efforts to establish EU relocation plan were extremely controversial since the European Commission adopted legislation directly related to territorial integrity and state sovereignty through qualified majority. The main opponents of the relocation scheme are the Visegrad group (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia). This paper concluded that Ian Manner’s theory on Normative Power Europe is limited in explaining the Member States resistance, rather Adrian Hyde-Price’s theory on neorealism is more accurate in explaining the resistance.