In person icon The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership at 30: Insights on Policy Learning and Substantive Change

Abstract

The main aim of this panel is to analyze the thirty-year trajectory of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP or Barcelona Process), which was launched in 1995, through the lenses of policy learning and the lessons, not only acquired by EU policymakers, but also by the most important stakeholders during this period. Recently, the EU tried to strengthen its partnership with the Mediterranean region through the “New Agenda for the Mediterranean”, which emphasizes socio-economic recovery, human development, and sustainable growth. In light of this initiative, the attempt of the Special Issue is important, as it helps to understand how the EU can address current challenges in a region marked by historical tensions and shared interests.The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP or Barcelona Process) began in 1995 to enhance Euro-Mediterranean relations. Initially, the EU aimed to transform its power into positive influence, fostering trust and sharing peace-building experiences through economic cooperation. Over the years, additional initiatives like the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Union for the Mediterranean were introduced to strengthen the EU's capacity in shaping its neighborhood. Scholarly debates surrounding the EMP's continuity and change center on whether the EU learns from its past mistakes and unintended consequences of its foreign policy in the region. Some argue that despite deficits, the EU has made incremental efforts to act as a normative power, reducing transaction costs for all involved. Conversely, critics claim the EU maintains its course, reinforcing existing asymmetries and prioritizing its security. Going beyond such dichotomies, this panel seeks to answer: How have the participants of the EMP experienced policy learning in the last thirty years? And how does policy learning impact the relationship between Europe and the Mediterranean region?

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