ABSTRACT:
It has been shown in this research paper that Europe in the long run could gain a lot from looking more positively at the prospects of EU-membership of the Southern Mediterranean neighbors. “Arab” or “Muslim” “development efficiency” in quantitative terms suggests a more positive approach than has been hitherto suggested in the literature. Our macro-quantitative analysis also shows several internal constraints that exist against such a scenario at the level of the European itself. So the debate has to be a two-way street from the outset – instead of fixing “our”, i. e. European attention at “their” lack of “integration capability” the Union would also have to start to thoroughly re-think its structural and regional policy before such a “big” “cultural” enlargement could take place.
