Shifting Strategies: Effective Solidarity

Abstract

This thesis takes the proposal of effective solidarity as suggested by the Slovak Presidency in the second half of 2016 as a case to assess whether a frame may contribute to changes in negotiation strategies of member states within the Council of the European Union. Data was gathered through interviews with counsellors of seven member states and an extensive document analysis. Results were analysed to assess whether the frame of effective solidarity altered the positive-sum or zero-sum perception of refugee relocation; level of salience; scope and linkage of the issue; or perception of shared values, identified as the indicators of negotiation strategies, of the selected member states. Analysis shows that in the highly sensitive policy field of migration and asylum, different perceptions of how to challenge the new reality of high numbers of migrants and refugees remains difficult to tackle. Historical and cultural differences heavily influence member states’ perception of this issue. Combining negotiation and framing theory, this thesis has found no significant changes in negotiation strategies. The changes that were identified in the indicators of the negotiation strategies are more likely to be caused by external factors.