Filippos Pierros - Bridges and Barriers: The European Unions Mediterranean Policy, 1961-1998

Bridges and Barriers

The European Unions Mediterranean Policy, 1961-1998

FILIPPOS PIERROS

JACOB MEUNIER

STAN ABRAMS

First published 1999 by Ashgate Publishing

Reissued 2018 by Routledge

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Copyright Filippos Pierros, Jacob Meunier and Stan Abrams 1999

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A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number:

ISBN 13: 978-0-367-13538-6 (hbk)

ISBN 13: 978-0-429-02702-4 (ebk)

The book at hand on Euro-Mediterranean relations by Dr Filippos Pierros and his co-authors is indeed the product of extensive and thorough research into this complicated and politically sensitive subject. It outlines and explains in detail all the complex issues while decodifying the policies and stakes involved in the Euro-Mediterranean relations since the very beginning. The authors have brilliantly managed to restructure the often confusing Euro-Mediterranean relations into a comprehensive, high quality and intellectually palatable academic work. At the same time, and along with the historical aspects of the book - valuable for the scholar, the informed observer and the European affairs practitioner - the authors have embarked on an in-depth analysis of the recent Barcelona Process including future perspectives. Throughout the whole work, there is a distinguishable effort to highlight the role of free trade, domestic restructuring, legal and institutional factors and political solidarity in developing and promoting Euro-Mediterranean relations. I believe it is destined to become a valid point of reference for those interested in the field of the external relations of the European Union.

Greece has always been a protagonist in the development of Euro-Mediterranean relations and will continue to be so in the future. After all, one should remember the strong impetus given to these relations during the EU Greek presidency as attested in the Corfu Summit Conclusions in June 1994. Despite the recent lack of momentum, the Barcelona Process should be vigorously and relentlessly pursued on the basis of free trade, structured political dialogue, social and cultural cooperation and respect for international law. In this context, the book is a major contribution.

Dr Pierros writes from not only the Mediterranean perspective offered to him by his nationality but also through the eyes of the European bureaucrat and policy maker through his experience in the European Commission and the European Parliament. His efforts along with those of his co-authors, Messrs. Jacob Meunier and Stan Abrams, have resulted in a bold, generous and forward-looking view of the Euro-Mediterranean policy.

Mr George Papandreou

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece

Without the support of a considerable number of individuals, both in Europe and the United States, this book could not have been written. Above all, we would like to thank Jean Sommier, Jr., an analyst at the Analysis Group/Economics (AG/E) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for his invaluable help in the preparation of and for formatting the final manuscript for publication.

Librarians on two continents helped us with our research queries. We are grateful to Ann R. Sweeny at the Delegation of the Commission of the European Communities in Washington, D.C.; to Judith C. Meunier at Bradford College, Massachusetts; to the staff of the libraries at Brandeis University, Massachusetts; and to the information officers at the European Parliament and European Commission Libraries in Brussels.

A number of people read the manuscript and provided much-needed criticism. We would like to thank especially Professor Geoffrey Edwards, Jean Monnet Director of European Studies at the Centre of International Studies, University of Cambridge; Gus Tugendhat at the European Commission; and Professor Glenda G. Rosendhal at Columbia University.

Other individuals who generously gave their time so that this book might see its way to completion were Michael Webb and Michalis Rokas, both at the European Commission, DG IB.

Three years have passed since the idea for this book was first conceived. Bringing the project to fruition was more difficult than we had first anticipated, making the assistance of the above-mentioned individuals all the more valuable to us.

Filippos Pierros

Jacob Meunier

Stan Abrams

August 1999