In 1995 the EU 15 and twelve Mediterranean states concluded the Euro-Mediterranean
Partnership. This agreement involves cooperation in political economic and cultural matters.
It aims at creating a common area of peace stability and prosperity. This study discusses the
concept of the EU as a 'normative' actor and questions its validity. In doing so it relies on
a neo-realist analysis. Democracy promotion Euro-Mediterranean trade relations and migration
are policy areas which each for its own reasons deserve special attention in the framework of
the Barcelona process. This paper reviews the reality of Euro-Mediterranean relations and
compares them with official EU documentation to demonstrate that the concept of the EU as a
benign 'normative' actor suffers from severe shortcomings.
