"The Arab spring" and its impact on the regional policy of the European Union

Abstract

"Arab Spring", which began in late 2010andearly2011in North African countriesas Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya has spreadto almost the entireMiddle East region. By the end ofFebruary 2011riotswere covered by19 ofthe 22 Arabstates. Countries in the regionhave becomerecipientsof the EuropeanNeighborhood Policy of the EUinitiatedin 2004after its expansioneastward, and since 2008– itspartnersin the Unionfor the Mediterranean. The articlediscusses the reasons of restrainedreaction from theEUat the initial stage, and then the need to developa newregional strategy forthe European Unionand relevantapproaches and tools. Imperativeto develop a newregional strategywas not onlypolitical,but alsoeconomic and financial. The articlefocuses onlarge outcome documents of summits, considersthe official document of the EU, which outlines amodernizedconcept of cooperationwith Arab states. In general, the EU declaresnot a rejection ofits previous policy, but shows a significantupdate to itscourse, taking into account changesoccurring in the regionandarising in thisnewcapacity.