The European Union and Maghreb: The new Partnership

Reda Ifrah (Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic) [BIO]

Email: reda.i@centrum.cz

 

ABSTRACT:

The European Union desired to establish economic, social, cultural and political membership with its neighbour states. The EU provided financial help and tried both directly and indirectly to involve the political development through the bilateral or multilateral treaties. The EU’s policies also supported development of human rights and economical reforms. These efforts of the EU led to the support of the Mediterranean countries in their transformation and creation of modern and democratic state. This paper would like to discuss the question of partnership which should be created between the EU and the Mediterranean countries that will not have the opportunity to join the EU. Relations between the Maghreb region and the European Union can be presented as a proof of complexity of determination the future EU borders and creation of the new membership. The paper will present historical development of the relationships between the Union and the Maghreb. The aim is to compare differences between EU-Maghreb and EU-Turkey relationships.