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Abstract 1 Introduction 1.1 Conceptual Basis 1.2 Significance and Relevance of this Research 1.3 State of the Field 2 Explaining Attitudes about European Integration 2.1 Instrumental self-interest 2.2 Social Location 2.3 National vs. European Identities 2.4 Institutions and Institutional Performance 3 Role of Intermediaries 3.1 Elites 3.2 Parties, Partisanship, and Ideology 3.3 Mass Media 4 Central and Eastern Europe 5 Conclusion References Footnotes

Since its inception, the European Union has stimulated many vigorous debates. This Living Review provides a state of the field perspective on the academic work that has been done to address the question of the perceptions of the European Union as a system of governance. It takes a broad scope in assessing the efforts of scholars and highlights significant theoretical and empirical contributions as well as identifying potential avenues for research. In order to understand perceptions of the EU, scholars have employed national-level frameworks of popular support, particularly partisanship and instrumental self-interest. As the number of members has increased, further research has taken a broader scope to include national identity, institutions, and attitudes regarding the normative and empirical function of both national and EU institutions. Additional works address political intermediaries such as parties, media, and elites. Finally, all of the works are fundamentally concerned with the supportive popular sentiment that underpins the EU’s legitimacy as a political institution. While there are far more works that can be practically included in this Living Review, we have attempted to construct an overview based on the dimensions that define this research as set out by significant contributions at the core of this literature.

This cutting edge handbook presents the main theoretical and empirical issues involved in current Europeanization research. As a critical review of the state of the art it evaluates the achievements and shortcomings of the growing Europeanization literature. As a reference book at advanced level it sets the parameters for Europeanization research in the coming years. All twenty-five chapters are written by the foremost authoritative scholars in the field. Contents AcknowledgmentsList of ContributorsPART ONE: INTRODUCTIONChallenges of a New Research Agenda; M.Vink & P.GrazianoPART TWO: THEORY AND METHODSThe Three Worlds of Regional Integration Theory; J.CaporasoConceptual Issues; C.M.Radaelli & R.PasquierTheorizing Europeanization; S.BulmerMethodology; M.HaverlandPART THREE: POLITICS & POLITYTerritory; K.H.GoetzCandidate Countries and Conditionality; F.Schimmelfennig & U.SedelmeierRegulatory Governance; D.Levi-FaurState Structures; P.BursensCore Executives; B.LaffanParliamentary Scrutiny; R.HolzhackerPolitical Parties and Party Systems; P.MairInterest Groups and Social Movements; R.EisingCourts; S.NyikosPART FOUR: POLICIESPolicy Implementation; U.SverdrupAgricultural Policy; C.Roederer-RynningEnvironmental Policy; T.A.BörzelCohesion Policy; I.BacheSocial Policy; G.FalknerTelecommunications Policy; V.Schneider & R.WerleEconomic Policy; K.DysonAnti-Discrimination Policy; V.GuiraudonAsylum Policy; S.LavenexForeign Policy; R.WongPART FIVE: CONCLUSIONSome Promises and Pitfalls of Europeanization Research; D.LehmkuhlBibliography

Abstract[From the introduction] The foregoing summary of current events indicates the complexity of the situation the EU is dealing with on the Balkans. Currently, it seems that, apart from Croatia and partly Montenegro and Macedonia, the countries are still far away from any meaningful prospects regarding European integration. A detailed overview of all of the intricacies and activities of the European Union’s foreign policy in the Western Balkans is beyond the scope of this paper. Instead, the following discussion addresses the main institutional and legal issues with regard to the process of integration for the countries of the Western Balkans. This process, the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP), is a precondition to enlargement procedures. In the light of the current events, the final part addresses the particularities of the role foreseen for the EU in Kosovo.

Serbia's parliament on Monday (7 July) approved the country's new government which will be led by prime minister Mirko Cvetkovic and favouring prompt EU membership– but which remains opposed to Kosovo's independence. The government coalition will be made up of a pro-EU alliance – led by current president Boris Tadic's Democrats (DS) – who won the elections in May, but did not get a big enough majority to form a government on its own, and the reformed Socialists (SPS) of late president Slobodan Milosevic

New prime minister Mirko Cvetkovic (DS) – a 57-year-old economist and former finance minister – promised that one of his first actions would be the introduction of a pre-accession EU deal for ratification by the Serbian parliament.

However, the new premier also stressed his country was nowhere close to accepting Kosovo's independence. "I pledge allegiance to the Republic of Serbia and promise with my honour that I will respect the Constitution... and to be committed to the preservation of Kosovo and Metohija within the Republic of Serbia," the premier and his ministers vowed after being sworn in.

In this first book-length treatment of integration theory for many years, Ben Rosamond provides an accessible and stimulating critical introduction to the full range of classical and contemporary perspectives. The book explains the centrality of theoretical work to the study of integration and the EU and carefully locates different theories within their wider intellectual and "real world" contexts. This thoroughly researched book engages with the key debates that have arisen from theoretical deliberations about European integration. It develops its own distinctive contribution, emphasizing the importance of "sociology of knowledge" questions when evaluating integration theory and stressing the continued significance of international theory to the study of the EU.