Towards a Europeanisation of French Mediterranean Politics?

The analysis of the Europeanisation of the French Mediterranean Politics is the main focus in this article where we also deal with the dynamics of the Franco-German couple in foreign policy. By looking simultaneously to the bilateral relations through three Presidents of the Republic and to the French policy for the Mediterranean at the European level, it is possible to notice that the two dimensions co-exist and that French foreign policy has fallen into a ‘path dependency,’ particularly visible as far as the Maghreb is concerned whereas the policy towards Turkey seems to be improving. There is a Europeanisation in both directions: from a ‘bottom-up’ perspective, France has appeared to be mainly a ‘policy shaper’ and a ‘policy supporter’; and, from a ‘top down’ direction through ‘absorption’ where the European logic, driven by Germany, has countered the projects of ‘re-francisation’ of the European policy.

CIFE: Information about L'Europe en Formation. Journal of Studies on European Integration and Federalism http://www.cife.eu/en/5/europe-en-formation_99-1

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