Small States and The European Union

Abstract: This study considers the small states and state like entities of Europe, defined as those with a population of fewer than 2 million, and their relationship with the EU. It focuses on Andorra, Iceland, Luxembourg, Jersey and Åland and is conducted using interviews with ‘non experts’ in each of these states. This data is supplemented with expert interviews in each state to establish the nature of the informal relationship between the EU and the state. The concept of discourse is a central theory in this work; and the content of the discourse in each state is examined and conclusions are drawn as to how this discourse has affected the possible relationships with the EU. This thesis finds that discourses of identity are of great importance in determining the possibility of changes in relationships between the EU and the small states, however once these discourses are resolved discourses of economics, security, size and practicality become more important.