The ENP and EU Actions in Conflict Management: Comparing between Eastern Europe and the Maghreb
The ENP and EU Actions in Conflict Management: Comparing between Eastern Europe and the Maghreb

Summary/Abstract: This article assesses the relations between the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and EU actions in conflict management in the neighbourhood. It is based on a comparative approach to the EU actions towards the ‘unsolved’ conflicts in the Maghreb and in Eastern Europe respectively. It argues that the comparative approach may be used to test the ENP with regard to its ambitions in conflict management. This article raises two questions. The first relates to the added value of the ENP with regard to EU actions in conflict management. The second relates to the extent to which the inclusion of conflict management in the ENP may inform us as to the international role of the EU. It concludes that the ENP showed a mixed record in terms of triggering new EU initiatives in conflict management in Eastern Europe and in the Maghreb due mainly to a lack of internal and external coherence. It also concludes that if the inclusion of conflict management in the ENP does not invalidate the thesis of EU civilian power, it sheds light on its scope.

• Details
• Contents