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 it is notoriously 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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12April 2017
The crime-terrorism nexus
Briefs
By
Florence Gaub, Julia Lisiecka
A criminal past is a common, yet often overlooked, characteristic of many European jihadists. This Brief examines the link between petty crime and terrorism, as well as the ways in which criminal experiences shape terrorist actions.
12April 2017
Out of Syria: shifting routes and returns
Alerts
By
Roderick Parkes
As the Syrian conflict grows in complexity, so too do the flows of people inside the country and into the neighbouring region. This Alert identifies three major shifts which will affect migration flows.
22March 2017
Defence industries in Arab states: players and strategies
Chaillot Papers
By
Florence Gaub, Zoe Stanley-Lockman
This Chaillot Paper analyses how Arab states strive to achieve strategic, economic and symbolic goals through indigenous armaments production, with some countries in the region showing a new determination to become more self-reliant in this domain. The paper focuses in particular on how efforts undertaken by Arab states to develop national defence technological and industrial bases (DTIBs) entail new relationships with defence suppliers.
08March 2017
Preventing terrorism in the south
Briefs
By
Annelies Pauwels

To step up the fight against terrorism, the EU is looking to forge closer ties with strategic countries in its Southern Neighbourhood. The Union’s initiatives to set up counter-terrorism dialogues in the region have, however, been met with a hesitant response. How can the EU overcome different interpretations of what effective counter-terrorism should look like?
21October 2016
Civil-military relations in the MENA: between fragility and resilience
Chaillot Papers
By
Florence Gaub
This Chaillot Paper examines the flaws and failures that have so far impeded a more functional and balanced relationship between civilian and military authorities in the Middle East and North Africa. The paper also highlights the importance of security sector reform (SSR) in consolidating the rule of law and, more generally, sustainable systems of governance.
14October 2016
Women in Daesh: jihadist ‘cheerleaders’, active operatives?
Briefs
By
Julia Lisiecka, Florence Gaub
This Brief examines the overlooked role of the women in the organisation, and argues they are every bit as dangerous as their male counterparts. But how should European security forces address this issue?
29July 2016
Strategic communications – East and South
Reports
With contributions from
Jan Joel Andersson, Florence Gaub, Antonio Missiroli, Nicu Popescu, John-Joseph Wilkins
Both Russia and ISIL/Daesh have engaged in aggressive messaging and deceptive media campaigns, albeit with distinct narratives, targets and audiences. This Report analyses the ‘what’ and the ‘how’; and also draws attention to strategic communications efforts undertaken by the EU.
29July 2016
Military coups: a very short introduction
Briefs
By
Florence Gaub
This Brief seeks to explain why (and when) coups happen. What conditions are needed to persuade the military to attempt to topple a government? And what elements increase the likelihood of success or failure?
13July 2016
China in the Middle East: not just about oil
Alerts
By
Sebastian Hornschild
As the US solidifies its position in the Pacific through the Trans-Pacific-Partnership (TPP) agreement, China is striving to rebalance to the West. The ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative is now driving the promotion of loans, investments and high-technology in the Middle East. But what are Beijing’s wider strategic goals?
01July 2016
The Arab common market: Fighters, weapons, ideologies
Briefs
By
Florence Gaub
This Brief shows how, despite the distinct lack of regional integration, the MENA is a continuous space when it comes to conflict. What does the emergence of this ‘conflict Schengen’ mean for wars – and long-suffering civilians – in the region?

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24September 2015
On target? EU sanctions as security policy tools
Reports
By
José Luengo-Cabrera, Iana Dreyer
With contributions from
Sara Bazoobandi, Thomas Biersteker, Richard Connolly, Francesco Giumelli, Clara Portela, Stanislav Secrieru, Peter Seeberg, Peter A.G. van Bergeijk
This Report, the outcome of an EUISS Task Force on sanctions, offers valuable insight into a practice that is now part and parcel of the Union's ‘security’ policy toolbox. It aims to shed more light on an EU policy area that is still under-researched at a time when sanctions are becoming more important in terms of their number, scale and political salience.
23July 2015
Adding fuel to the fire? Arming the Kurds
Alerts
By
Jan Joel Andersson, Florence Gaub
The decision by EU member states – and others – to supply the Iraqi Kurds with weapons in the face of an onslaught by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) seems logical. But what unintended future consequences could this have?
26June 2015
Counterinsurgency: not an Arab specialty
Briefs
By
Florence Gaub
When it comes to counterinsurgencies, violence merely begets violence. So what exactly is needed to successfully tackle insurgents? And why is it that Arab governments and militaries have such a poor track record in this domain?
26June 2015
The dark side of the web: ISIL’s one-stop shop?
Alerts
By
Beatrice Berton
With law enforcement agencies pooling resources to counter ISIL's online propaganda, this Alert seeks to raise awareness of the jihadists’ use of the so-called ‘Dark Web’, the hidden underbelly of the little explored Deep Web.
12June 2015
Arab parliaments: better than their reputation?
Alerts
By
Florence Gaub, Beatrice Berton
At first sight, Arab parliaments seem to have reverted back to their pre-2011 role as empty shells, rubber-stamping the government’s decisions. This Alert, however, reveals a more nuanced state of affairs whereby Arab parliamentarians in some countries are – slowly – growing into their roles.
17April 2015
Whatever happened to Yemen’s army?
Briefs
By
Florence Gaub
This Brief takes a look at the implosion of Yemen’s armed forces, and how this has exacerbated the already dire security situation in the country. It seeks to underline the complexity of the dynamics on the ground, proving that the causes of Yemen’s woes go beyond over-simplistic explanations based on sectarian antagonisms.
10April 2015
Lebanon’s civil war: seven lessons forty years on
Alerts
By
Florence Gaub
It is now four decades since the outbreak of Lebanon’s civil war. But with similar conflicts spreading across the Middle East, the country’s tragic history can still provide useful lessons on how to end such violence.
20March 2015
Algeria’s army: on jihadist alert
Briefs
By
Florence Gaub
Algerian decision-making circles have come to the conclusion that the country is once again facing a protracted war with Islamist terrorism. But unlike the dark decade of the 1990’s, Algiers is now combating jihadists which operate across borders and threaten its entire neighbourhood.
27February 2015
Libya: law(s) and disorder
Alerts
By
Florence Gaub
This Alert examines the effects of the country’s Political Isolation Law (PIL). Although part of a necessary process of political transition, does this ‘deqaddafication law’ go too far?
27February 2015
Libya: crude implosion
Alerts
By
Florence Gaub, José Luengo-Cabrera
Four years after the toppling of Qaddafi, Libya is perilously close to economic collapse. Growing political factionalism and the prevalence of security vacuums have facilitated the proliferation of armed militia groups, while the destruction of the country’s oil infrastructure poses a serious risk to any chance of future economic prosperity.

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18June 2010
CSDP and Turkey
Organised with the support of the Instituto Español de Estudos Estratégicos (Spanish Ministry of Defence), Middle East Technical University (METU, Ankara) and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this seminar explored Turkey's role in CSDP operations and ways ahead for future cooperation.
09February 2010
Iran Working Group Meeting
Examining and analysing Iranian domestic developments and the way ahead for EU-Iran relations, this working group meeting took place at the EUISS in Paris on 9 February 2010.
11December 2009
Turkey and the ESDP: towards enhanced cooperation?
The EUISS co-hosted the second Seminar on Turkey and the ESDP at Bosphorus University in Istanbul on 11 December 2009. The debate centred on the assumption that an open CSDP is not only a viable idea, but could also constitute a suitable framework for enhanced security cooperation with third countries in a multipolar world.
30March 2009
Lessons learned and strategic thinking after the Gaza crisis EU and MEPP Task Force meeting
The EUISS organised a one-day Task Force which focused on the situation on the ground after the Gaza crisis; European actors; European policy instruments; and perspectives from different EU institutions.
26January 2009
Barcelona 2010 Euro-Mediterranean relations Bilateral and multilateral dynamics: what synergies?
The EUISS organised a seminar to consider what relations should be established between the bilateral and multilateral dimensions of Euro-Mediterranean relations to pursue the July 2008 Paris Summit objective, and what agenda Euro-Mediterranean relations should have in the perspective of Barcelona 2010.
14March 2008
European Security and Defence Policy: Dialogue between the EU and its Mediterranean partners
This high-level seminar held in Rabat in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation examined Morocco's relationship with ESDP, including Moroccan involvement in EU and other peacekeeping missions to date, and priorities for cooperation between the EU and its Mediterranean partners.
07March 2008
The Mediterranean Union Initiative and the Barcelona Process
The Institute hosted a roundtable discussion where participants discussed the French-led proposal for a Union for the Mediterranean, revisited the principles, achievements and challenges of the existing Barcelona Process, and assessed evolving Euro-Mediterranean challenges.
29October 2007
Peace in the Middle East: is there a way forward?
This event sought to foster a a transatlantic dialogue on the key questions for a negotiated solution: Palestinian politics; the regional context (including Iran); and the respective roles of the EU and the US in promoting the peace process.
10September 2007
Is the Barcelona Process at a new crossroads?
The EUISS organised a brainstorming session in Paris to dicuss: ‘Is the Barcelona Process at a New Crossroads?’
29June 2007
Roundtable on Turkey
The seminar was organised in order to evaluate the current situation in the country (especially in view of the recent mass demonstrations and the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections) and to explore the question of whether the EU has a role to play.

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