COVID-19 amplifies weaknesses while exacerbating latent illnesses in infected human beings. As we enter the second year of the pandemic, one may argue that much of the same has happened to EU foreign policy towards its neighbourhood. Ever since the launch of the enlargement process and the European neighbourhood policy, the EU based its foreign policy on the political use of economic interdependence. While capable of harmonizing rules and boosting trade flows, such an approach has proven insufficient to foster the socio-economic development of Europe’s neighbourhood, hindering its democratization prospects. The devastating consequences of COVID-19 outbreak have exacerbated this reality, further highlighting the shortcomings of EU policy in the neighbourhood.
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