The impact of the Euro-med Partnership on EU-Mediterranean countries relations

Résumé du document

In November 2005, the 10th anniversary of the Barcelona Process was celebrated. It was the opportunity to take stock of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP). Indeed it was often said that the Partnership was a failure or at least disappointing. The most striking feature of this statement is the ongoing crisis in the Middle-East. But to make such a harsh assessment, one must first define and evaluate exactly what the EMP was set for, what its objectives were, and how it managed to develop despite obstacles. The Barcelona Declaration of 1995, set the EMP, at the time, with 15 EU member states and 12 Mediterranean countries. These 27 partners defined three areas of cooperation which corresponded to three different chapters: a political and security, first chapter, an economic and financial, second one, and finally a chapter in social, cultural and human affairs. It must be stated from the beginning that this Declaration was only politically binding, but not legally binding, which was the condition for Israel, for instance, to take part in the partnership.

Extraits

[...] The failure of this horizontal integration in the framework of the EMP is interlinked with the relations between the EU and the Mediterranean countries. Not only the relations are alomost exclusively vertical in the Partnerhip, but they are also bilateral. The Association Agreement and now the Action Plan of the ENP illustrate this, it is EU-Morocco, EU-Algeria, EUEgypt agreements. As a matter of fact, where the EU can speak with one voice when it comes to trade matters, the Mediterranean states cannot. [...]

[...] It seems obvious that the EMP has had a great impact on the economic and financial relations between the EU and the Mediterranean countries. It puts the latter in a situation of dependency regarding the financial aid, but certainly they have a lot to gain in the game. If the first chapter is a great matter of interest for the EU member states, it is in the second one in which the Mediterranean countries have the greatest interest in the short and mediumterm. [...]

[...] All of this results in a persistant feeling of and a misperception of North” and South”, or West” and East” that separates two regions which 12 years ago have signed together and agreed upon common objectives. The EU and the Mediterranean region need to converge their economic interest and concerns. Conclusion Whether we consider the 12 years of Euro-Mediterranean Partnership as a success or a failure, it certainly had an impact on the relations between the countries of the EU and its Mediterranean counterparts. A clear success and important evolution in the relations was the regular meetings and various different fora where representatives of some states had a unique chance to meet and discuss. [...]

[...] In general, the first chapter has definitely strengthened the so-called “North-South” relations, meaning the relations between the EU member states and the countries of the Mediterranean region. But the assessment shall not stop here, as the ultimate purpose of the Partnership is to foster the “SouthSouth” relations, in other words to create and encourage an integration process in the Mediterranean region. What has been done for this purpose? What are the difficulties and the impact on the relations between the partners? 2. A clear expectation-gap A first and important point of tension in the Partnership and especially related to the first chapter is the Middle-East conflict. [...]

[...] The impact of the Euro-med Partnership on EU-Mediterranean countries relations Outline INTRODUCTION PART THE IMPACT OF ACTION RELATED TO THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE PARTNERSHIP 1. INITIATIVES MAINLY EU-DRIVEN 2. A CLEAR EXPECTATION-GAP PART II: THE IMPACT OF ACTION RELATED TO THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE PARTNERSHIP 1. OBJECTIVES, ACTIONS AND TOOLS 2. BUT STILL THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY Abbreviations CFSP EMP ENP ENPI FTA MEPP Common Foreign and Security Policy Euro-Mediterranean Partnership European Neighbourhood Policy European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument Free Trade Area Middle-East Peace Process Introduction In November 2005, the 10th anniversary of the Barcelona Process was celebrated. [...]