Bridges and barriers. The European Union’s Mediterranean policy, 1961-1998

Bridges and Barriers; the European Union's Mediterranean Policy, 1961-1998:

This book surveys the history of European Community policy towards its southern non-member neighbours, the so-called Third Mediterranean Countries (TMCs), from the 1960's to the present. For the purposes of this book these are defined as eleven states: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Cyprus and Malta plus one 'quasi-statelet', the Israeli-occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Greece, Portugal and Spain are also briefly discussed as these countries were technically 'third countries' prior to their accession to the EC. The authors argue that trade liberalisation, although not without risks and uncertainties, is the best means for strengthening Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and boosting living standards in the TMCs. They acknowledge that there are strong arguments in favour of a gradual approach to free trade. They also tackle the question of why there is a need for European policy as opposed to separate national policies. They argue that the scope and complexity of the problems facing the Mediterranean cannot be dealt with effectively by each Member State on a bilateral level; that certain aspects of foreign policy are no longer within the competence of European national governments; and thirdly that a European policy is needed to counterbalance the substantial weight of the United States in the region. The authors also point out the limits of European Union policy making in the Mediterranean, both political and financial.

Chapter one examines the political, social and economic condition of the TMC's in order to understand what is driving European policy towards these countries. Chapter two considers the Community's nascent Mediterranean policy from 1961 to 1972. Chapter three covers the Global Mediterranean Policy (GMP), which lasted from 1972 to 1989 and discusses the twin crises of the 1970's and 1980's - recession and enlargement - that strained Euro-Mediterranean relations and hastened the GMP's demise. The Redirected Mediterranean Policy is examined in Chapter four as well as several shorter-lived attempts to boost Euro-Mediterranean solidarity. Chapter five describes the latest policy initiative in detail, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Finally the conclusion argues that free trade is the best means of creating an area of shared prosperity.

Appended is an extensive bibliography covering monographs, journal articles, reports, proceedings, yearbooks and brochures and EU official documents.