The European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), in collaboration with EuroMeSCo, is implementing a programme to strengthen the capacities of think tanks and research institutes in the Mediterranean countries with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation. The programme comprises a series of institutional visits and a workshop jointly organised with FRIDE and Real Instituto Elcano.

The European Union’s external action must continue to work with a multilateral approach to the Mediterranean to examine two main dossiers for its future: security and stability, on the one hand, and integration and economic growth, on the other.  

EuroMeSCo and IEMedObs recently launched a series of new briefs with northern and southern Mediterranean perspectives on key aspects of Euro-Mediterranean relations. Selected experts provide their views on topics such as the EU’s response to the Arab Spring, the role of civil society in the new Mediterranean landscape, Security Sector Reform in Arab countries and the emergence of Islamist democracies in southern Mediterranean countries.

Briefs 43 and 45 analyse 'The Security Sector reform after the Arab Spring'

• Brief 43, by Fred Tanner and Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou
• Brief 45, by Salam Kawakibi

All Briefs can be read here

Arab autocracies were thought to be extremely stable and Muslim countries seemed to have no significant civil society. However, the Arab Spring proved that these assumptions were wrong and put the EU in an extremely difficult situation regarding its legitimacy. It revealed the credibility gap between the EU rhetoric on democracy promotion and the policies made on the ground. According to Annette Jünemann, the reaction of the EU was “too little too late”.

The previous neglect of civil society and political Islam makes it difficult for the EU to establish new channels of communication with new Southern political actors.” (Read the brief)