EU Policy Toward the Middle East; Europe's Energy Crisis and Concerns about Weakening Influence 

Sung Eun SHIM

shimsungeun@assembly.go.kr

National Assembly Research Service

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Relations between Europe and the Middle East, and North Africa (MENA) are rapidly changing due to the recent war in Ukraine and the energy crisis. Though the EU attempts to diversify its sources by strengthening cooperation with MENA countries, its influence on the Middle East is weakening. With the withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 during Trump Administration, Europe's position has been gradually shrinking due to the recovery of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran through Chinese mediation in March 2023, and Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu's re-election. The EU is likely to actively utilize the Union for the Mediterranean or European Neighborhood Policy, but it is urgent to respond appropriately to current tasks such as security instability such as the war in Ukraine, restrictions on China's influence on MENA, concerns over Netanyahu's return and concerns over worsening the situation, and the 2023 Turkish presidential election.