The EU’s Southern Neighbourhood [What Think Tanks are thinking]

The European Union’s relations with Mediterranean countries form part of a broader European Neighbourhood Policy. This creates a framework for bilateral and regional cooperation with Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia.

A key element, agreed in 2011 following the ‘Arab Spring’ uprisings in the region, is the ‘more for more’ approach, which envisages closer relations in terms of financial assistance, travel and trade for those countries which pursue democratic and economic reforms. According to many analysts, the effectiveness of the policy has been challenged by political instability in many countries of the region and the growth of illegal migration to Europe.

This ‘At a glance’ note highlights a selection of recent studies by major international think tanks on the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood Policy, with papers on migration grouped as a separate category.

Written by Marcin Grajewski.