Publications /
Policy Paper

Back
The European Neighbourhood Policy: A Bureaucratic Phoenix?
Authors
Vivien PERTUSOT
November 25, 2016

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was initiated in 2003 with regional variations in the south with the Union for the Mediterranean since 2008, and in the east, with the Eastern Partnership since 2009. The aim of bringing together countries as diverse as Egypt and Armenia under the same heading seems bold. The bureaucratic advantage in having a single framework is obviously understandable, but the political relevance is less so. However, the geopolitical unrest in the east and the south have created many uncertainties, both in terms of security and the European Union’s ability to be an influential and leading actor. Hence, the revision of the ENP in November 2015 and the publication of the EU’s Global Strategy in June 2016 to try to refocus European priorities.

They are based around three principles: selectivity, stability, and resilience. First of all, selectivity allows for a greater differentiation in the treatment of partners, particularly according to the willingness of these countries to co-operate with the EU. Then, stability takes on centrality in face of support for democracy; European security concerns have become a priority. Finally, resilience reinforces the idea that stability and security are fundamental principles of the ENP, although this concept remains fairly vague and difficult to export.

Gradually, the ENP is becoming a toolbox. The EU knows, rightly, that it cannot hope to transform all its neighbourhood, either at the same rate, or towards the same horizons. This is why the ENP needs to be based on a clear political framework so that its tools and its relations are governed by guiding principles. The Global Strategy can provide such a framework. The European institutions and Member States must ensure that there is coherence of action. It is all the more important as the ENP has suffered from its technocratic nature for a long time, which disconnected it from the broader foreign policy objectives. Nowadays, there is an opportunity to correct this design fault and to put the ENP at the service of the EU's foreign policy and make it more relevant in the eyes of Member States, who may then invest in it further.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Authors
    Vivien PERTUSOT
    November 25, 2016
    The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was initiated in 2003 with regional variations in the south with the Union for the Mediterranean since 2008, and in the east, with the Eastern Partnership since 2009. The aim of bringing together countries as diverse as Egypt and Armenia under the same heading seems bold. The bureaucratic advantage in having a single framework is obviously understandable, but the political relevance is less so. However, the geopolitical unrest in the east and ...
  • Authors
    Sous la direction du Professeur
    April 19, 2016
    La façade atlantique de l’Afrique réunit dans un espace géopolitique en construction les principaux atouts et défis du continent africain. La conjugaison de ces enjeux au comportement des Etats de la région semble fournir les premières composantes d’une identité stratégique « afro-atlantique », toujours en construction : vision commune des enjeux et institutionnalisation de l’espace, à travers des structures informelles comme la Conférence des États africains riverains de l’Atlantiq ...
  • Authors
    Youssef Amrani
    December 22, 2015
    La situation géopolitique prévalant actuellement dans le pourtour méditerranéen est difficile et complexe, en raison notamment, de l’apparition d’une nouvelle équation stratégique qui laisse craindre une nouvelle flambée de violence. Dans ce contexte perturbé, le Maroc, sous le leadership de SM le Roi Mohammed VI, s’est engagé dans un processus démocratique, fondé sur une approche inclusive qu’il mène avec foi et détermination. La Méditerranée conserve, certes, une triple vocation ...
  • December 7, 2015
    The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership was initiated with the aim to build a space of shared prosperity and security among all the countries in the region. The achievement of this objective, however, continues to be challenged by several geopolitical, economic and social factors. In such a context, there is now a greater urgency to adapt the approach and the instruments, thus allowing Euro-Mediterranean partners to seize opportunities towards an effective area of shared stability and pr ...
  • May 22, 2015
    Le Maroc dispose d’un espace maritime stratégique grâce auquel il peut renforcer ses attributs de puissance. Cet atout géopolitique et économique doit être porté par une véritable ambition nationale maritime. Quels sont les défis sécuritaires à surmonter et quelles sont les opportunités qui s’offrent aux Maroc sur le plan géopolitique? Autant de questions qui interpellent pouvoirs publics et think thanks nationaux. A ce titre, OCP Policy Center organise un Colloque sur la façade at ...
  • Authors
    Ian Lesser
    November 18, 2013
    This policy brief argues for a closer relationship between Morocco and the United States. Morocco’s geo-economic position is evolving in ways that will shape U.S. and international interests in the country and open new avenues for cooperation. Key drivers of change in this context include Morocco’s stake in greater economic integration in the Maghreb, a growing role in Africa, new energy and infrastructure projects, and the emergence of Morocco as a hub for communications around th ...
  • From

    05
    3:00 pm April 2022
    يخصص مركز السياسات من أجل الجنوب الجديد حلقة برنامجه الأسبوعي "حديث الثلاثاء" لمستقبل العلاقات المغربية الاسبانية مع العربي الجعايدي، باحث بارز بمركز السياسات من أجل الجنوب الجديد عرفت العلاقة الثنائية المغربية الإسبانية تطوّرًا ملحوظًا مع إعلان الحكومة الإسبانية مساندتها لمبادرة الحكم الذاتي التي يطرحها المغرب لحلحلة النزاع على صحرائه وإثبات سيادة الرباط على أقاليمه الجنوبية. وأتت هذه الخطوة الاسبانية لتحسين العلاقات الثنائية مع جارها الجنوبي ولإعادة بناء العلاقة على أسس سليمة تمكّن البلدين من الانخراط المشترك في مشروع يهدف الى تحقيق علاقة استراتيجية ومتوازنة وإيجابية تتسم بالشفافية ومقاربة متوازنة. فما هي أهم الإشكاليات والتحديات التي تقف أمام تحقيق هذا الهدف؟ نعود خلال هاته الحلقة إلى أهم التحديات التي تقف أمام تحقيق هذا الهدف المنشود والذي يتمثل في تحسين العلاقات الثنا ...
  • From

    10
    5:30 pm March 2022
    Africafé est une émission du Policy Center for the New South qui décrypte l’actualité des organisations africaines et de l’Afrique. A travers de courtes interviews, l’émission tente de proposer d’aborder de manière pédagogique les enjeux des organisations africaines et l’actualité du continent. Dans cet épisode Abdessalam Jaldi international Relations Specialist au Policy Center for the New South, présente les enjeux du dernier sommet UE-Afrique, les principales conclusions et les propositions de refonte de la relation entre les deux continents. ...