European Union Foreign Policy in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Fifteen years after its launch, the impact of the 'Barcelona Process' on the Occupied Palestinian Territory is in need of a reassessment. Despite some initial improvements in the political and economic structures, the Euro-Mediterranean Process (EMP) alone failed to anchor a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians leading to the outbreak of the Second Intifada. In response, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was launched to bring a number of new foreign policy instruments which induced substantial reforms. However, Hamas' electoral win in 2006 brought a halt to the EU's aid and diplomacy. This boycott proved detrimental, as it widened the rift between the main parties to the point of no reconciliation. Whether the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM, or 'Barcelona Process') proves any better than its predecessor policies in the region remains to be seen. For the first time, this book aims to provide a broad picture of EU's policies toward the OPT, in order to draw lessons from them and offer proposals for the way ahead.

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: PASSIA, 2010
• Language: English

[Source: PASSIA, Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs]