Between norms and interests EU democracy promotion in the Mediterranean Neighbourhood

Democratic principles have traditionally not been an important aspect of the EU's foreign policy in the Mediterranean region, however, with the launch of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP),promotion of political reform and norms appears to take on a more prominent role in the EU's Mediterannean policy.This analysis seeks to explain this emerging emphasis on democracy promotion in the Mediterannean region. based on an analytical distinction between pragmatic, ethical-political, and moral arguments, this study suggests that the EU's democracy promotion is founded on more than utility connsiderations.In fact, it indicates that a sense of liaison-based duty to assist close neighbours is parucularly important in understanding the focus on democratic principles in the ENP, and finally, that moral commitments appear to play a role, even if only an adjusting one. Hence in the light of the literature on the EU's foreign policy, and in particular its so-called 'normative' dimension, these findings present a nuanced picture and suggest that the EU's democracy promotion is neither a purely interest-based nor norm-based policy, rather it has elements of both, yet, with emphasis on the latter.