From the Barcelona Process to Union for the Mediterranean: the European Union’s approach to co-operation with North African and Middle East states prior to Arab Spring

The Mediterranean region constitutes the closest neighbourhood of the European Union. The region needs support and assistance to equal differences between the North and South part of the Mediterranean. In order to achieve this ambitious aim it was decided to institutionalise co-operation between EU and other countries of the region under the auspices of the Barcelona Process. Although reasons of those differences were determined and identified and mechanisms that were supposed to abolish them were established, until today no significant success has been archived. The changes towards approach to the project of Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean which were dictated by the Arab Spring definitely give an opportunity to improve the situation. Nonetheless after more than two decades since establishment of the Process it may be stated that the Resolution of EuroParliamentary Assembly is still as valid now as it was on the day of its signing on 15th March 2005.