The (In)Coherence of the EU's Mediterranean Policies: Analysing the Effects on Implementation Success

Abstract

This article examines whether the implementation of the EU's
Mediterranean policies has been unsuccessful due to the
incoherence of these policies. Termed as incompatibility of
goals among the EMP, the ENP and the UFM, incoherence is
analysed in various subfields of the EU's external action,
namely in the functional external dimensions of internal
policies (Justice and Home Affairs/JHA, Energy, Transport,
Environment and Education) and external relations (Trade) on
one side, and in Foreign Policy on the other. Functional
subfields prove to retain more coherence and higher
implementation success, with Education being exemplary.
Conversely, political subfields (democratization and respect
for human rights) expose incoherence and consequently
about 50% failure of implementation. Nevertheless, in JHA
(the fight against irregular immigration and terrorism), where
the former functional cooperation became highly politically
burdened, results show even higher non-implementation,
which bears more general relevance for EU external action
policy-making.