Europe and the Mediterranean Middle East

Abstract

This chapter discusses relations between Europe—defined here as the European Union (EU) and its member states—and what I have termed ‘the Mediterranean Middle East’, that is, the states in North Africa and the Middle East bordering the Mediterranean Sea. To understand these relations, Europe’s colonial legacy in the Middle East must be considered. Of similar importance are the geographic proximity and the complex nature of the ties that link both areas to each other. Taken together, these factors shape a relationship that contrasts with the Middle East’s relations with the more distant United States, the main security actor in the region. This chapter traces the evolution of relations between Europe and the Mediterranean Middle East—the area ranging from Morocco in the West to Turkey in the East—from the emergence of the modern states system in the Middle East to the present. While considering the changes that have taken place in Europe and the Middle East as well as at the global level over the decades, the chapter assesses the interests that have driven European policies towards the region and their impact, together with the responses and strategies of the region’s governments vis-à-vis European policies. It also outlines Europe’s role in the quest to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and summarizes European responses to the aftermath of the Arab uprising that resulted in regional instability in the Middle East and a massive increase in the number of refugees and migrants trying to reach Europe.