Abstract

Euro-Mediterranean policy has been a focal point for the EU since 1995, based on the belief that extensive political and economic reforms in the Arab world would improve governance and enhance European safety. The article tracks the stages of this policy and describes the difficult progress of the projects due to the criticalities of the area, until the final democratic illusion of the Arab Springs. Now Europe has decided to change its approach. Its strategic goals are unchanged, but it will pursue indirect action, greater pragmatism and more gradual tactics to improve the safety-democracy and stability-reforms ratio. This policy might be difficult to pursue, however, if European solidarity remains at a historical low.