The EU Quest for a Security Community with the Southern Neighbours: EU–Tunisia Relations

Abstract

The Arab Spring events and the fall of several dictatorships have created a new reality in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region), leading to expectations of change in the European Union (EU)’s approach to security policies as regards its southern neighbours. To what extent has Tunisia become an integrated part of the EU security community? In seeking to answer this question, this chapter argues that the degree of integration with the EU security community depends on two conditions: the level of integration and the level of relative attractiveness of the EU. A high level of integration would mean that the scope of the agreements is relatively extensive and that there is a certain degree of adaptation to EU rules as well as participation in EU policies. The EU, as a liberal integrative actor facing potential competition from other regional actors, works together with domestic actors in partner countries in shaping its relations with neighbouring countries.