Europe and the Middle East - perspectives on Major Policy Issues: What does the future hold for the EU’s efforts in the Middle East?

The Middle East has been a region of major importance to the EU for decades; however, member-states have struggled to fulfil their objectives of supporting peace, prosperity and good governance amongst their southern neighbours. The Lisbon treaty should give more coherence to the EU’s foreign policy machinery, but it will not be able to help address some of the broader challenges which have undermined EU efforts in the region. The current economic crisis, including the strains within the Euro-zone, risks creating additional difficulties for the EU in its attempts to stabilise the Middle East.