Wednesday, June 26, 2013
C0.23 (Oudemanhuispoort)
As a neighbouring region, North Africa had been a major focus of the EU’s ‘structural diplomacy’ before the upheavals of 2011. The EU has fostered a range of relationships at different levels (public, societal, commercial; bilateral and multilateral) with Mediterranean countries. Its support for change appeared to have weakened in the years leading up to the revolutions and it played an insignificant role during the year in question; but the Union is now arguably more relevant than ever to the region and its new governments, especially given their socio-economic needs. While its role in existing conflicts is likely to be limited it has the potential to play a much more important role in regard to countries (such as Tunisia and Egypt) which may be on a democratic path, if not necessarily a liberal path. A decision must also be made on how to deal with the remaining friendly, but authoritarian, governments in the region.
The Lisbon Treaty reforms were designed to improve EU coherence but its initial reaction to the regime change that occurred was limited and unimaginative. The European Commission came up with a modest set of proposals to upgrade the EU’s policies in late 2011, including ‘task forces’ to develop relations and further trade liberalisation. This paper will critique EU efforts thus far. It will then offer suggestions on how it might combine its economic and political instruments more constructively, and how it should deal with the new regional dynamic in particular.
