Barbara Marcinkowska
The Institutional Framework of the EU’s Engagement in Its Southern Neighbourhood [View PDF]
ABSTRACT
Taking into account the importance of the Mediterranean region for the EU, this paper aims to analyse the evolution of the institutional framework of the Mediterranean relations as well as the factors that influence it, in order to answer the question of the extent to which the development of the institutional cooperation between the EU and the Mediterranean region is following the path dependency. The study started with an analysis of the historical development of the institutions, policies and instruments of cooperation within the Mediterranean region. What is emphasized is the tracing of the trends and tendencies that are characteristic for this development. Furthermore, it is argued that regarding the peculiarity of the region, the EU manages its relations with Mediterranean countries using two approaches: bilateral and regional. Thus, the influence of this dichotomy on the shape of institutions as well as the changes in balance between these two approaches is analysed. Then, other dichotomies in the relations between the Mediterranean countries and the EU are identified and analyses with the emphasis on their influence on the development of institutions.
Keywords: European Neighbourhood Policy, ENP, Union for the Mediterranean, European Union, Barcelona Process