The Impact of European Union’s Economic and Political Policies Towards Somalia

Abstract

This study focuses on the impact of European Union’s economic and political policies towards Somalia. The main objectives of the study were to analyse the EU’s economic and political policies towards Somalia, the implementation of the EU’s economic and political policies towards Somalia, the impact of European Union’s economic and political policies towards Somalia and the challenges hindering the implementation of the EU’s economic and political policies in Somalia. The study employed qualitative analysis and conducted an extensive documentary review to gather existing knowledge on the impact of European Union’s economic and political policies towards Somalia. The findings of the study on the overview of the EU’s political and economic policies towards Somalia includes: establishment of transitional governments, supporting the constitutional reform process, promoting human rights and the rule of law, financial assistance to support development programs, trade and economic integration in Somalia, private sector development; the implementation of the EU’s economic and political policies towards Somalia includes: political dialogue and reconciliation processes in Somalia, financial and technical assistance, security and stability in Somalia, financial assistance to Somalia to support development programs, trade and economic integration in Somalia, private sector development in Somalia; the challenges hindering the implementation of EU’s economic and political policies towards Somalia include: political instability, lack of institutional capacity, corruption and governance issues, limited infrastructure, informal economy and trade barriers; the impact of European Union’s economic and political policies towards Somalia includes: trade and development, development aid, fisheries partnership agreement, governance and state building, democracy and human rights and migration and security. The study recommends that to improve the implementation of the European Union's economic and political policies on Somalia there should be more efforts in strengthening local ownership and capacity building, addressing of corruption and improvement in governance, promotion of inclusive economic development, supporting conflict resolution and peacebuilding and enhancing monitoring and evaluation.