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Promoting Democracy in the Arab World: A Better European Neighbourhood Policy

Promoting Democracy in the Arab World: A Better European Neighbourhood PolicyIn light of the upheavals in the Arab world, the EU’s failure to foster economic and political liberalization in the southern Mediterranean has been made obvious. In spite of the launch of the Barcelona Process (aka the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP)), in 1995, intended to foster a “secure and stable Euromed region, underpinned by sustainable development, rule of law, democracy and human rights”, democratic reform was not linked to European funding. Instead of focusing on good governance, autocratic regimes were tacitly accepted as bulwarks against Islamic extremism and immigration. This continued to be the case when the EMP was integrated into the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in 2004.

Needless to say, the EU’s policies toward its southern neighbours were in need of an overhaul, when the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, and the European Commission on May 24 adopted a renewed version of the ENP.

Using the ISIS’ web portal CSDP MAP for joint communications, press releases, analysis, and statements of ENP objectives, it was possible to gather information on the renewed ENP from a variety of trustworthy sources, and get a basic overview of this central element of EU foreign policy. The following will focus on the southern Mediterranean aspect of the ENP rather than the Eastern Partnership.

On paper at least, the revamped ENP, “A New Response to a Changing Neighbourhood”, seems a great improvement to the policies of the past 15 years. Basically, the renewed ENP calls for a closer correlation between democratic reforms and EU funding. On that note, more funds will be made available. On top of the €5.7 billion allocated for the period 2011-2013, €1.24 billion will be added in support of the ENP.

 As stated in the Joint Communication “The EU…. will insist that each partner country’s reform process reflect a clear commitment to universal values that form the basis of our renewed approach.” Furthermore, the ENP envisions a more targeted and tailored approach than has been the case, taking into account the aspirations, needs and capabilities of the partner country.

Notably, the EU will support progress toward “deep democracy.” The EU will go beyond merely partnering with a nation’s government, and will attempt to include civil society as a whole in the reform process, for example supporting a free press, political parties, NGOs, and trade unions.

Furthermore, the ENP intends to support economic and social development through measures including; support of efforts to improve business environment, facilitating foreign investment and technology transfers, (possibly) an enhanced investment protection scheme, and support of agricultural and rural development. Trade arrangements will also be used as a policy tool, in which partner countries’ access to EU markets will be linked to their commitment to approximating EU rules and practices.

 In addition the ENP calls for the management of immigration. This aspect is intended to channel migration into legal channels and strengthen the management of partner countries’ borders. These policies are on the one hand intended to facilitate the legal migration of skilled labor to ageing Europe, and on the other halt illegal immigration at the borders of the participating countries.  

Viewed from a short term perspective, the Arab Spring is a source of destabilization, with all that this entails in the form of economic turmoil, immigration, and conflict. Viewed in the longer term, events in the Arab world are an opportunity for homegrown democracy to firmly root itself in the region, encouraging economic growth, local opportunities for potential immigrants, and trustworthy regimes on the EU’s borders.

If for nothing else then for its own benefit, the EU must support democracy in the southern Mediterranean. In doing this, the EU must play to its own strengths; the”soft” diplomacy of trade, people to people contacts, technology exchange, and institution building.  On paper, at least, the renewed ENP is precisely these things. We shall see how this well intended policy concept translates into the real world.

 

Author

Finn Maigaard

Finn Maigaard holds an MA in history from the University of Copenhagen. As an MA student Finn focused on diplomatic history culminating in a thesis on US-Danish security cooperation in the Cold War. Finn also interned at the Hudson Institute's Political-Military Center, where he concentrated on the EU's role as a security institution, and at the World Affairs Institute as a Communications/Editorial Research Assistant. Finn currently resides in Washington, DC and works as a freelance writer, and as Program Coordinator at the University of Maryland's National Foreign Language Center.