EU–Mashreq relations

This chapter presents an overview of key issues in the relations between the European Union (EU) and the countries in the Mashreq region since the launching of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in 2004. In this chapter, the Mashreq mainly refers to Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. ¹ Initially, it should be emphasized that the following analysis of EU–Mashreq relations is influenced by the very different political, social and economic realities in the four countries. As stated in a Strategy Paper from the European Commission in 2004, this was, from the beginning, reflected in ENP-related foreign policy considerations: the ENP Action Plans (APs) ‘will draw on a common set of principles but will be differentiated, reflecting the existing state of relations with each country, its needs and capacities, as well as common interests’ (Commission of the European Communities 2004). In the Mashreq, Jordan, along with the Palestinian Authority and Israel, was the first to negotiate an AP. By mid–2005, AP negotiations with Egypt and Lebanon were ongoing, while Syria still had not signed an Association Agreement (AA).