Europe-Arab Economic Relations: Balance of a Quarter Century 1973-1997

• Main Author: Bichara Khader
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) 1997-09-01
• Series: Revista CIDOB d'Afers Internacionals
• Online Access: http://www.cidob.org/es/content/download/5764/55567/file/37khader.pdf

Since 1973, commercial relations between Europe and the Arab world have been determined by the variable of energy. Bichara Khadar asserts that such relations are not born of interdependence since the southern countries are subsidiary recipients of the technology, equipment and services of the industrialised world. This article studies the Euro-Arab economical exchanges in this the last quarter of the century, revises the agreements made between the EU and certain Arab countries, and then proceeds with various prospectivereflections. The author’s analysis makes evident the fact that the EC is the principle commercial partner of Arab countries who are, in turn, dependent, one-product exporters maintaining vertical relations with Europe, a fact verified by the low level of inter-Arab commerce.With respect to Euro-Arab economic relations in the future, Khadara considers that these will be determined by a set of conjunctive factors: the evolution of the regional Arab system and each State’s maintenance of internal and external security; the developments in the Arab-Israeli Peace Process; the evolution in petroleum prices; the Arab States’ capacity to attract foreign investment, mobilise the emigrated Arab capital”, and take in local savings; and finally, the degree of dynamism, diversification and integration of Arab economies.