Europe’s flawed approach to Arab democracy

The European Union's efforts to promote political reform in North Africa and the Middle East are running into the ground. After the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, Europe's leaders pledged to promote democracy in the region as a way of tackling the root causes of terrorism. They hoped that the offer of trade, aid and political co-operation, packaged under a new 'European neighbourhood policy' (ENP), would encourage reform in Middle Eastern and North African states.