Il programma ENPI dell’Unione Europea e le azioni di sostegno alla sponda Sud del Mediterraneo. Il caso dell’Egitto

The Mediterranean region has always been a strategic area for Europe. Over the years the European Union has found itself having to respond to growing demands from the Mediterranean region that could seriously jeopardize even its own safety. In a highly sensitive context, subject to sudden changes caused by political and economic factors, as the Mediterranean is, European Union has had to repeatedly rethink its neighborhood policy to adapt it to the needs and strategic priorities in the meantime definitely changed, and to strengthen the socio - economic integration with the euro - Mediterranean territories. Through the Euro - Mediterranean cooperation, stable and lasting relations have been built in areas of common interest for both shores of the Mediterranean Basin, thanks to a mechanism that gives the Mediterranean countries, unlike in the past, the capacity to self - determine their own choices of regional development. The aim of this work is to analyze how Euro - Mediterranean relations evolved thanks to multilateral and multi-sector cross-border cooperation instruments (specifically the ENPI CBC MED 2007-2013 are deepened through interviews with stakeholders) which allowed a structuring of long-term relationships. The first part of the thesis is a historical introduction to political events leading to the construction of deeper Euro - Mediterranean relations and in particular the historical and political ties between Egypt and Europe. In the second part the Euro - Mediterranean relations are analyzed under the financial cooperation point of view, with particular attention on institutional tools put in place over the years, focusing on their role in the socio-economic development of Egypt since 1996 to 2013. The third part of the thesis is a focus on ENPI CBC MED 2007-2013 Program and the projects involving Egypt, with the interviews carried during the doctoral period highlighting the views of the Egyptian partner’s actors. Finally, the thesis deals with some perspectives and recommendations for the future of the Euro - Mediterranean cooperation, based on the collected interviews.