ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the ways in which European Union policy towards the Mediterranean region has evolved, focusing specifically upon Tunisia's economic and political involvement in this European policy process. The EU's Global Mediterranean Policy was initiated in October 1972 by EU leaders and was to be pursued in three principal ways. They are free trade in industrial goods, the removal of restrictions on a substantial part of agricultural trade, and financial and technical cooperation. The Euro-Mediterranean partnership would lead to a zone of peace and stability as a result of close political dialogue, respect for democracy, good governance and human rights. The significance attached by the EU to the renovated Mediterranean policy was reflected in a much expanded financial aid package for the period 1991-1996. The Tunisian government had drawn up an extensive list of development programmes in which EU aid would play a significant role.
