Description
The purpose of this study is to contribute to this scarce literature by analysing the extrinsic identities of small EU states through the perception of large states. Based on the main premise of constructivism on the identity concept, states can have multiple identities, and how states interpret others' identities impacts their collective actions in the security field. Therefore, the more we know about identities, the more we
understand the motivations behind the actions/decisions. To this aim, I will apply a comparative case study design with interview method (F2F and CAWI interviews with the member states' representatives).
Thus, I will acquire qualitative and quantitative data.
Specifically, I will focus on the European Peace Facility (EPF) funding to Ukraine within the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Three features of the EPF mechanism crucial to capture the relevancy of the
case for the research question: first, decisions are taken based on a unanimous voting system which provides fair representation among the member states and equal rights on blocking and assisting the
decisions; second it is an off-budget fund, and the contributions are take place based on the gross national income (GNI) of the member states. Therefore, the EPF funding mechanism allows EU small states to
utilise funding for their security strategies on a global scale by assisting strategic partners or third countries. Third, although the direct budget of funding comes through the contributions of member states,
the EU manages the budget. Thus, the role of the EU and member states differ from each other - Member States "assist provider" and the EU "formal sender" (Rutigliano, 2022). Considering the given
information, EPF is an instrument of the CFSP to analyse small states' external identity as the mechanism compensates for the structural differences of the member states.
