New Diplomacy? Contrasting the EU's strategies in the Levant and Gulf countries

Since the 1970s, European politicians have pursued combined efforts towards the Middle East region, with varying degrees of success. From the diplomatic activity launched under the aegis of EPC, to the interactions with the Arab League, the GCC, and activity in the context of the Barcelona Process and more recently the Union for the Mediterranean, there have been a diversity of approaches to dealing with Europe's Arab partners. In the light of the Arab Spring, EU external relations vis-à-vis the Arab World have shifted dramatically. However, essentially three stories have emerged: 

1. The ongoing Middle East Peace Process, and relations with Israel and Palestine

2. The political events in 'Arab Spring' countries, such as Egypt and Syria

3. The predominantly trade-based relations between the EU and the GCC countries.

 With these parallel, interconnected stories in mind, the paper will address the question: “What forms of external governance do the diplomatic activities of the EU in the Levant and the Gulf take?"  In order to answer this, the paper will address - in part - how diplomatic activity is constructed and subsequently communicated to external partners. This will require an analysis of how the EU's External Action Service has dealt with these three story lines that have emerged since the turn of the decade. 

 It will start by describing these three stories in detail, with a focus on the EU's approach in each case. The paper will then continue to show what this implies for our understanding of the EU as an international actor.  Finally, reflections will be made as to what this means for the EU in international affairs, particularly whether it seems to play a stronger role in one of the three areas