Comparative Analysis of Europeanization in the pre-accession Visegrad Four and Associated Trio

Abstract: Associated Trio is the newest sub-regional format of cooperation in Europe, counting only a year since its foundation in May 2021 by the three member states: Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova. It shares some similarities with the Visegrad Group, the most prominent cross-country cooperation format of the Central European states. The most important common feature of these two groups is that their member states have united with the aim to foster Europeanization through cooperation with each to reach their ultimate goal – EU membership. This thesis explores and compares the processes of Europeanization in Associated Trio and pre-accession Visegrad Four. For this, it explores Europeanization based on three markers: Identity, values and norms. Finally, to explain how such institutionalization of sub-regional partnership can be instrumental for fostering Europeanization, this thesis examines what kind of institutional formations Associated Trio and Visegrad Four are.