The Union for the Mediterranean and the European neighbourhood policy : a renewed Barcelona process or a strategy of EU regional hegemony?

Abstract

The underlying hypothesis of this dissertation is that the European Union, through its main foreign policy instrument for the Mediterranean, the Barcelona Process, pursues a strategy of regional hegemony in order to advance its interests within the region using 'soft power'. The dissertation, in fact, substantiates this hypothesis with reference to analyses of the various European Union policy frameworks for the region. It is established that the European Union has used various approaches, including multi-lateral and bilateral instruments, in order to deal with the multitude and diverse characteristics of its Mediterranean neighbours. The strengths and weaknesses of these instruments are also evaluated and the reasons for the bottlenecks within the Barcelona Process are identified. As the most recent policy framework within the Barcelona Process, the Union for the Mediterranean is considered in the context of the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue. The problems associated with its implementation are closely examined and the obstacles impeding further progress are also identified. The characteristics of the Union for the Mediterranean are compared with those of other policy frameworks for the Mediterranean region with a view to determining the possibility of the European Union advancing its regional hegemony through this instrument, and also to assess whether these various policies hinder or help each other. Finally, the current events and uprisings within the Mediterranean Basin are reviewed with respect to their impact upon the Barcelona Process as well as the efficacy, or otherwise, of the European Union foreign policy instruments in order to deal with the unfolding events within the region.