The “Arab Spring” and the EU’s “Democracy Promotion” in Egypt: A Missed Appointment?

EFD Researcher Tommaso Virgili reviews the European partnership with Egypt under the European Neighbourhood Policy, in order to assess the effectiveness of the EU policy in the promotion of democratisation and human rights, hinged on the use of positive and negative conditionality. According to Virgili, in spite of the attempt to review the European policy vis-à-vis the Southern Mediterranean so as to meet the new aspirations of democracy and human rights unfolding on the ground, the European Union has failed to effectively pursue the principles that it solemnly proclaimed.

The article is in English and can be read here.