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MENA

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a fragmented region: in spite of its relative cultural and historical homogeneity, it has some of the lowest levels of intra-regional trade, political cooperation and legal migration in the world.

This is largely due to the fact that, since the end of the Second World War, it has experienced the full spectrum of political violence. Conventional, hybrid, and civil wars, revolutions, and terrorism have hindered political and economic development, and created fertile ground for further violence. Breaking this ‘conflict trap’ is imperative for the states of the region, as well as those actors who have a stake in it.

For the EU, the MENA is of strategic importance for three reasons:

it is an immediate geographic neighbour,
a crucial passage for goods traveling to and from Europe (including oil and gas),
and it has been historically unstable.

The region’s security and economic situation is consequently closely intertwined with that of Europe. This explains the Union’s desire to contribute to regional stability through different means such as the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the Barcelona Process and the Union for the Mediterranean.

The EUISS seeks to contribute to the EU’s overall effort in the MENA by providing in-depth analyses on a number of key issues affecting the region.

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17November 2023
Roundtable on EU-North Africa relations
On 17 November, the Institute organised a closed-door roundtable to launch Chaillot Paper 179 on EU and North Africa relations.
10October 2023
EUISS at EuroMeSCo Annual Conference
On 10 October, Dalia Ghanem was invited to the EuroMeSCo Annual Conference in Madrid to discuss Euro-Mediterranean relations.
02October 2023
The EU and North Africa
Lost in recalibration
Chaillot Papers
Edited by
Dalia Ghanem
With contributions from
Adel Abdel Ghafar, Intissar Fakir, Eya Jrad, Tarek Megerisi
This Chaillot Paper analyses the EU’s relations with five North African countries – Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. In particular it focuses on how the fallout of the war in Ukraine as well as the ongoing migration crisis have affected relations.
13July 2023
Rebuilding trust
Briefs
By
Loulouwa Al Rachid, Dalia Ghanem
This Brief examines how EU-Iraq relations have evolved since 2003 and how they can be enhanced. The authors argue that the EU needs to revise its perception of Iraq in the light of how the country has changed over the past two decades, and explores ways for the EU to pursue a more mutually beneficial partnership with the country.
29June 2023
The Islamic republic in existential crisis
The need for a paradigm shift in the EU's Iran policy
Chaillot Papers
By
Ali Fathollah-Nejad
This Chaillot Paper examines the background to the protest movement in Iran, focusing on the profound crises – socio-economic, political and ecological – with which the Islamic Republic is currently grappling, as well as on the issue of gender discrimination and inequality.
13April 2023
Translating and understanding the Arab world in 2023
On 13 April, the EUISS hosted and gave a lecture to the Maltese Diplomatic Academy on the impact of the war in Ukraine on the MENA.
21March 2023
Dalia Ghanem at European Parliament
Dr Ghanem participated in a hearing at the European Parliament on the on the state of human rights in Algeria.
15March 2023
Footprints in the sand
Briefs
By
Dalia Ghanem
In recent years both China and India have expanded their presence in the Middle East. This Brief shows however that their footprint in the Maghreb is primarily economic and remains light in comparison to that of the long-standing partner of the countries in the region: the EU.
01February 2023
Roundtable on Türkiye
On 1 February, the EUISS and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) co-organised a roundtable on Türkiye in the world.
16January 2023
EUISS hosts expert discussion with Marc Lynch
On 16 January 2023, the Institute welcomed Dr Marc Lynch to debate on the question "How can Europe make sense of the post-American Middle East?"

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01December 2022
The summit of Arab states
Briefs
By
Dalia Ghanem
In the wake of the Arab League summit that took place in early November in Algiers – providing an opportunity for an energy-emboldened Algeria to assert its regional influence – this Brief examines why the organisation has often been criticised for its ineffectiveness, and how the EU and the League of Arab States might improve their institutional cooperation.
19November 2021
Arab Climate Futures
Of risk and readiness
Chaillot Papers
Florence Gaub, Clémentine Lienard
This Chaillot Paper shows that successfully tackling climate change in MENA will depend on decisions taken both in the region and outside. Assisting the Arab world in meeting the challenges posed by climate change will be a matter of strategic importance for Europe.
29September 2021
Arab youth futures
Briefs
By
Florence Gaub
A survey conducted among young people in the Middle East early in 2021 probed how this generation feels about the future. The results belie the perception that young people in the region are pessimistic or fatalistic, instead highlighting a relative optimism, and concerns over issues that they feel will be of particular importance in their future, such as healthcare and political representation.
21April 2021
How the Islamic State sees the future
Briefs
By
Florence Gaub
Since Islamic State lost its territory in Iraq and Syria, it has adapted its future script according to its circumstances. This Brief explores how the organisation invests in and manipulates an end-of-times narrative that exerts strong appeal for its followers, and will influence its next steps.
30March 2021
Curse or blessing?
Briefs
By
Matteo Ilardo
This Brief examines the oil-conflict nexus and analyses the effects of the recent pandemic-induced oil price shock on three vulnerable, conflict-affected countries.
22January 2021
What if...not? The cost of inaction
Chaillot Papers
Edited by
Florence Gaub
With contributions from
Alice Ekman, Giovanni Faleg, Daniel Fiott, Gustav Lindstrom, Katariina Mustasilta, Patryk Pawlak, Clara Portela, Sinikukka Saari, Stanislav Secrieru, Simona R. Soare, Nathalie Van Raemdonck
The 12 scenarios presented in this Chaillot Paper draw attention to the cost of inaction in a variety of areas, ranging from Russia to Africa, from cyberspace to environmental matters.
18December 2020
Conflicts to come
15 scenarios for 2030
Chaillot Papers
Edited by
Florence Gaub
With contributions from
Natasha E. Bajema, Lotje Boswinkel, Daniel Fiott, Franz-Stefan Gady, Zoe Stanley-Lockman, Kathleen J. McInnis, Nicolas Minvielle, Andrew Monaghan, Katariina Mustasilta, Ali Fathollah-Nejad, Patryk Pawlak, Tobias Pietz, Sinikukka Saari, Stanislav Secrieru, Simona R. Soare, Bruno Tertrais, Olivier Wathelet
The volume presents 15 fictionalised scenarios that imagine how future conflicts might occur. These scenarios contribute to, and at times challenge, the existing body of assumptions concerning the genesis of conflict, its likelihood and how it might play out.
30November 2020
Relationship therapy: making Arab police reform work
Chaillot Papers
By
Florence Gaub, Alex Walsh
This Chaillot Paper looks at the police in the Arab world – an institution at the centre of political life but one that is very much under-researched. After years of attempts at reform, it seems that not much progress has been made in reducing corruption and violence, or increasing police efficiency. Why is it so hard to reform an institution so deeply embedded in the daily lives of citizens?
31July 2020
The EU’s chemical weapons sanctions regime
Briefs
By
Clara Portela, Erica Moret
Concerns about the erosion of the ‘taboo’ on chemical weapons use have deepened in recent years, in particular following the chemical weapons attacks that have taken place in the Syrian conflict. The sanctions regime against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons which the EU adopted in October 2018 constitutes the Union’s first coercive instrument against chemical weapons, and is an attempt by the EU to support the multilateral chemical disarmament regime after efforts to frame a response via the United Nations Security Council failed.
30June 2020
Deciphering China in the Middle East
Briefs
By
Erzsébet N. Rózsa
Beijing’s new activism in the Middle East reflects the evolution of Chinese foreign policy thinking, in line with the country’s rise as an economic superpower. Economic goals rather than ideological considerations have become key criteria in China’s selection of partners in the region, especially those which can provide the energy resources necessary to fuel China’s continued dynamic growth. Although as yet China is not overtly seeking to displace the US as the dominant power in the region, its penetration of the Middle East inevitably has far-reaching foreign policy and security implications.

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01December 2022
Dalia Ghanem at Rome Med forum
Dalia Ghanem was invited as a speaker at the 8th annual Rome Med forum organised in collaboration with the Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) and the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
02May 2022
Dalia Ghanem joins EUISS
The Institute is glad to welcome Dr. Ghanem as the new Senior Analyst in charge of the Middle East and North Africa portfolio.
08December 2021
Great Expectations: defining a trans-Mediterranean cybersecurity agenda
How can the EU best cooperate with MENA countries on cybersecurity? Register to our online event.
11June 2021
EUISS present at the High-Level Course on CSDP
From 7-11 June 2021, EUISS co-organised module 4 of the 16th High-Level Course on the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
26March 2021
EUISS foresight podcast Assumptions miniseries
In this new miniseries we look at past expectations that turned out to be untrue and try to learn from past mistakes.
22January 2021
2021- What's to come? The year ahead in foreign policy
On 22 January, the EUISS live-streamed its yearly foresight event entitled '2021- What's to come?' on YouTube to help us think through the challenges ahead, anticipate disruptions, and be better prepared for the coming year.
15July 2020
EUISS foresight podcast – Season 2
The EUISS' ‘What if’ podcast returns for a second season, this time looking at the foreign policy implication of the covid19 crisis.
09January 2020
EUISS foresight podcast – Season 1
The EUISS ‘What if’ podcast is a foreign policy foresight conversation: it looks at fictional scenarios that could happen between now and the end of 2021.
12November 2019
Florence Gaub at the European Parliament
Florence Gaub was invited to brief the Subcommittee on Security and Defence.
28October 2019
Middle East Foresight Forum
On 28 of October 2019, the EUISS organised the Middle East Foresight Forum to discuss the key challenges ahead for the region.

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